What's the silver colored breastplate hanging on the front of some WWII German uniforms? What significance and who could wear it?

It's called a "gorget" and it was usually worn by their version of military police. It led to the MPs being slangily referred to as "chained dogs."

More abstract, a gorget started off as the piece of armor that covered the upper chest and lower neck where the breastplate, shoulder plates, and helmet meet. Later, it shrank in size to something more ornamental and was used to signify everything from rank to coat of arms to unit.

Originally Posted by moving0target

It's called a "gorget" and it was usually worn by their version of military police. It led to the MPs being slangily referred to as "chained dogs."

More abstract, a gorget started off as the piece of armor that covered the upper chest and lower neck where the breastplate, shoulder plates, and helmet meet. Later, it shrank in size to something more ornamental and was used to signify everything from rank to coat of arms to unit.

Belated thanks. I have seen them in a lot of movies but couldn't Google anything up on them.

Not a problem. I didn't know until I finally got sick of wondering and spent an hour trying to find info on them.

Thanks! I can't think why the german wearing the metalplate of front their chest. I thought it is just for to protect the heart. DUH!! Now, they are militray police and it is called breastplate. Duh....haha.

hmm fox your right duh it's called a breastplate