History

The Deutsche Reichsbahn (German National Railway) was created after the First World War in 1920 by combining the formerly independent state railways of the abolished German Empire into a national organisation. Under NSDAP rule, the German state railway system was reorganised in the 1930s to better meet the needs of the economy and to prepare for war, eventually supplying the front lines with soldiers and supplies. The Reichsbahn also had an infamous role to play in the Holocaust, transporting Jews and other “undesirables” to concentration and extermination camps.

The Bahnschutzpolizei (railway protection police) was founded in 1939 as a merger of the Bahnpolizei (railway police) and the Reichsbahnschutz (railway protection force), the latter being regular railway employees that, beyond their normal functions, additionally served as railway security personnel.
The Bahnschutzpolizei as a railway sub-organisation was made up of policemen that were employed by the Reichsbahn rather than the German police force. Their task was to ensure railway safety as well as preventing railway-related espionage and sabotage. During the war, most members of the Bahnschutzpolizei served in the occupied Eastern European territories.

The visored field cap was introduced in November of 1944. It is in the style of the Army M43 cap. The cap is made of light blue (officially “Horizontblau”, horizon blue) cloth for lower ranks and dark blue for ranks beginning with Abteilungsführer. It features a cloth visor, and two flaps held above it with two buttons. The flaps could be unbuttoned and worn over the ears for protection against the cold and the elements. On the front, a cloth eagle was worn over a metal cockade. The cap featured gold-coloured piping for higher leaders, silver-coloured piping for Officers, and grey piping for Enlisted Ranks.