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.

Bahnpolizei shoulder boards were introduced at some point in 1936 or 1937. The Bahnpolizei was also referred to as Streifdienst (patrol service), which was reflected in their rank names.
Rank pips were in the shape of four-sided stars. All shoulder boards featured the Reichsbahndirektionsnummer (railway directorate number) in the form of a metal cypher, gold-coloured for the three higher ranks and silver coloured for the three lower ranks.

The shoulder boards are as follows:
Streifdienstleiter wore two double-laid double cords in silver with black chevrons on them, and two gold-coloured pips.
Stellvertretender Streifdienstleiter wore two double-laid double cords in silver with black chevrons on them, and one gold-coloured pip.
Streifabteilungsführer wore two double-laid double cords in silver with black chevrons on them.
Oberstreifenführer wore two double-laid double cords, the outer one in silver with black chevrons on them, the inner one in black, and two silver-coloured pips.
Streifenführer wore two double-laid double cords, the outer one in silver with black chevrons on them, the inner one in black, and one silver-coloured pip.
Streifer wore two double-laid double cords, the outer one in silver with black chevrons on them, the inner one in black.