Deutsche Reichsbahn 1924-45: A Study in Pictures

[Diane]

Hello Railway fans!

I would like to begin a discussion about the insignia, uniforms and accoutrements worn by the German Railways from 1924 - 45. Perhaps the moderator(s) will pin this thread so we can easily refer to it.




Above is an interesting set of German Railway Insignia I obtained from Magdeburg. Note the silver metal insignia and plaited braid which usualy indicates a Privately Owned & Operated Railway company. These conform in design closely to the Reichsbahn 1937 DKO with the exception of the colours.

The speciality insignia (Sparten-abzeichen) on the top left looks like a coupling device of some kind and was not a pattern used by the Reichsbahn.
Note the similarity to an oarcock on a life boat!

The yellow rayon cap cords with the silver flecking which came with this group. The lot also came with a complete set of silver pebbled tunic buttons which would also indicate a Private Railway Service.

After discussion with other long time Reichsbahn collectors it has been thought this insignia group may have had a nautical connections. Perhaps a dockyard railway servicing the Vulcan shipyards, or a private railway ferry service, etc.

Any thoughts on this insignia would be welcome.

Next I will pot a comparison of the odd insignia above contrased with a standard set of 1937 pattern Reichsbahn collar tabs and shoulder boards.


MfG,


Diane

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[Diane]

Here are the two insignia side by side.

Note the similarity of the two patterns. On the left is the standard 1937 Pattern collar tab & shoulder boards (with 1942 pattern pips).





The Reichsbahn only used two "waffenfarbe" (branch colours) - called "Spartenfarbe" in regulations from 1937-45.

Red - Railway operationsal officials such as engineers, brakemen and conductors.

Blue - Administration and finance officials.

The Reichsbahn used gold metal insignia and buttons exclusively for all ranks.



Diane

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[Diane]

The Ostbahn


Sometime after the occupation of Poland in 1939 the German Railways were given responsibility for the repair, operation and maintainence of the former Polish National Railway system.

A seperate operating branch of the Reichsbahn called the "Ostbahn" was established.

For the most part they continued to wear standard Reichsbahn uniforms and insignia with the following changes.

Note the Army Official style collar tabs and the winged wheel device on the shoulder boards!




I think this pattern was only used for a year or two so they are very rare.



Diane

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[Diane]

A selection of Reichsbahn speciality patches used from 1937-45. This is only a sampling as there were another 5-6 speciality patches in the series which I do not have.

Warning! Some of these designs continued in used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn through the 1960's!





The Private Railways used the same insignia except the embroidery was in silver-grey on a dark blue or black backing.



Diane
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[wvdparis2]

Hi all and thanks to Diane for this great idea !

some of you already knows that I am collecting Reichsbahn for 20 years and I am working on a book on the subject. I am working on every variation of every insignia then If you have any Reichsbahn item you don't want to publish here, please feel free to email me or PM.
My speciality is the period 1935-45 but in the past I collected German Railway from the origin to the 90's. It was a good experience to learn about Postwar items.

the following pics is only to illustrate that when I speek about Reichsbahn, I have some documentation
In fact I own most of the Regulation confirmed in different ORIGINAL period publications, some are illustrated Here.

please note the B/W pictures shown are not modern done from the period publications but are the ORIGINALs used to do the publications !
(I had chance to find a part of the Original Archives)

[wvdparis2]

I am not really collecting private Railway but I confirm silvered insignias were worn by the private railway and here are a pics of some of my Private RR (and Kleinbahn items) according to the 1936 and 1941 regulations.

The insignias shown from both Diane and "Das Reich" have according to me no conjunction with Reichsbahn but are probably from one of the multiples private transportation company existing mosty prewar.

[wvdparis2]

Concerning the "Branch colours", only one was existing !
The piping color for Reichsbahn was Red and don't denote any "Branch" conjontion.
The blue color was used for Reichsbahn leader shoulderboards from the pay group 5 and over after 1941. (the early RB SB with Red underlay was sometimes confused on the front with Army General SB especially this Greatcoat !)
Here are samples of hi leaders SB of the 4 main different regulations period beetween 1935 and 45

[Das Reich]

mr paris.

it has been my practice to avoid confrontations whenever possible. however, when i am called front and center, as a good ex soldier, i step up.

many know about your interest in the reichsbahn. that is why i was directed to you when i posted questions about it. i pm'd you in a couple of ocassions and you ignored my requests until i asked straight forward if you did not want to provide assistance. you replied that you had been busy and that you were willing to. i never heard from you until today when i came across this thread. without asking, diane has educated me in the last few days more than i was able to find out after multiple hours of search. the same item you decided to ignore, has become the matter of debate. the same respect i was willing to extend to you, i ask for myself. i would appreciate that when you post, you leave me out of your conversations. as far as i am concerned, anyone can have all the knowledge of the world in a subject. however, if they are not willing to share it, it will die with them, and that is a shame.

good luck and regards

[wvdparis2]

Whow....
I will be short because It is not the wright place for this.
1 . You asked 2 questions on this forum and 2 direct to me
2 . I told you I will answer you ASAP
3 . when I first answered to your questions about your tabs and branche colours (sorry if I begun sharing with everybody on this forum before to PM you !), I receive such post and similar per PM !!!!!
Yes my Job don't leave me much times, I took some of this few times to take pics to illustrate my answer and for this result !!!!
The next times I will use this time for any thing else...
PROBABLY MY LAST POST

[Diane]

Some higher grade Reichsbahn officials shoulder boards.

[David North]

Perhaps not fully in simpatico with Diane's intent on this very interesting thread, however "railway" associated buckles recently put their head above the parapet on the Belts and Buckles forum.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=72175

Regards,

David

[Bill H.]

Hi Diane,

Thanks for posting these Reichsbahn items. Very interesting stuff!

I did notice that the shoulderboards shown with the yellow piped Rail tabs look just like Wasserschutz Polizei NCO boards.

Could it be that two different organizations used the same insignia? That might lend backup to your theory on dock yard rail service. We need some period photos to really put the issue to rest though. Did you aquire the items from a collection or from a vet's estate?

Cheers, Bill Huber

[SCHUPO]

Bill,

The Wasserschutzpolizei shoulder boards have plain yellow inner cords whereas the Railway board that Diane shows have silver chevrons on the inner and outer cords. They are very close though.

There seems to be a difference in opinion as to the meaning of the Spartenfarbe color red or blue meaning. Are they pay group or specialty related?

[Diane]

Hello everybody,

Here are some more Reichsbahn "Passants" for lower grade officials.




Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Diane

[Diane]

Hello everybody,

There is some debate about these colours. I obtained an illustrated price list from the RAAB & CO, Uniformeffekten Fabrik that lists the "Spartenfarbe" as:

Blaue - Beamten

Rot - Betrieb

I have actually seen Reichsbahn grade 11, 12, 17 shoulder boards in on a dark blue wool abzeichentuch backing.

It is certainly possible that these lower grades were mistakenly manufacturered by Raab because they assumed these administrative grades applied to all ranks when they did not.

Perhaps M. Aubin can clear this up?

Sincerely,

Diane

www.brandenburghistorica.com