G-Man (slang)

G -Man ( plural: G-Men ) is a slang term among American gangsters for an FBI official. Originally designated the term any kind of federal agent / police officer / investigator, where the " G" for "government ", similarly as in the word GI ( Government Issue ) stood.

With the press reports about the arrest of "Machine Gun" Kelly, this changed. "Machine Gun" Kelly was in the 1930s, the most wanted gangsters in the United States. According to some reports, he is at his arrest on September 26, 1933 by the FBI " Do not shoot, G -Men! Do not shoot " " ( " Do not shoot, G -Men! Do not shoot! ")! Have called. Probably, however, he uses the term only in its interrogations. However, this did the reporting on the arrest of no harm. The term G -Man spread shortly thereafter permanently in America by the movie 'G ' Men from 1935 with James Cagney in the lead role of a G -Man.

In addition to the G-Men, there was the "T -Men ". These were the investigators of the United States Secret Service, which was subordinate to 2002, the U.S. Treasury (Treasury Department) and traditionally regarded as a rival of the FBI. Even today, the Secret Service is out for personal protection of the U.S. president also responsible for the prosecution of various offenses in the criminal economy, however, the term has T -Man not been widely distributed. Similar investigation bodies are found in various U.S. government agencies, such as also at the post office, but without known have become names for the investigators.

In German-speaking countries, the term acquired a certain dispersal by the dime novel series ( light fiction ) about the fictional G -Man Jerry Cotton.

In the computer game series Half-Life as well as in several films with conspiracy character of the G -Man is sometimes a mysterious figure who silently in the background pulling the strings in history.