German Feldgendarmerie Lieutenant (Officer) (Military Police Officer) WWII – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

Character Identification

Specific Name: WWII German Feldgendarmerie Lieutenant (Officer) (Military Police Officer)

The text on the image explicitly labels this figure as “MTZ033 Feldgendarmerie Lieutenant”. This distinguishes him from the previous figure; while both are Military Police, this character is a commissioned Officer wearing a standard service tunic rather than a greatcoat.

Visual Description

This custom-printed minifigure depicts a high-ranking member of the “Chain Dogs,” equipped with authority and officer-grade gear:

• The Gorget (Ringkragen): Like the enlisted soldier, this officer wears the distinctive Silver Gorget (metal necklace plate) printed on his chest. The chain around the neck is the primary symbol of his duty status as Military Police.

• Headgear: He wears a Grey Officer’s Peaked Cap (Schirmmütze). Unlike the steel helmet of the previous figure, this stiff visor cap features the silver wire piping, eagle, and wreath cockade indicating officer rank.

• Uniform & Insignia:

  • Tunic: He wears the standard field grey (Feldgrau) officer’s tunic.

  • Sleeve Patch: On his left arm, there is a specific Police Eagle Patch (usually orange/brown for Feldgendarmerie).

  • Cuff Title: Below the eagle, a brown “Feldgendarmerie” Cuff Title is printed on the sleeve, further identifying his unit.

  • Rank: The shoulder boards and collar tabs (Litzen) are printed with the silver braiding typical of a Lieutenant (Leutnant).

• Weapon: He is holding a black Pistol (resembling a Luger P08 or Walther P38) in his right hand, the standard sidearm for officers.

• Equipment: He wears a black leather belt with a cross-strap and ammunition pouches.

Historical Background

• The Role of the Officer: While ordinary Feldgendarmerie managed traffic, an Officer (Lieutenant) would be responsible for commanding MP detachments (Trupp) attached to Army divisions. They had the authority to arrest soldiers of almost any rank if they were found violating orders or deserting.

• “Kettenhunde”: Even officers wore the gorget, sharing the nickname “Chained Dogs.” This metal plate was coated in luminous paint to be visible at night during checkpoints.

• Late War Power: As the war turned against Germany, Feldgendarmerie officers became powerful and feared figures, often leading “Flying Courts-Martial” to summarily execute deserters in the final months of 1945.