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.

Bahnschutzpolizei shoulder boards were introduced in 1939. All feature a metal cypher in the form of a winged wheel, silver-coloured for Higher Leaders and Enlisted Ranks, and gold-coloured for Officers. Rank pips are in the shape of four-sided stars and follow the same colour theme. The shoulder boards for all ranks except Higher Leaders feature a Reichsbahndirektionsnummer (railway directorate number) in the form of a metal cypher, silver-coloured for Enlisted Ranks and gold-coloured for Officer ranks. Additionally, musicians and band leaders wore a metal lyre on their shoulder boards, while medical personnel had their railway directorate number replaced with an Asclepius staff. All shoulder boards feature black cloth underlay.

Staatssekretär shoulder boards feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in gold and the centre in silver with black chevrons, as well as two pips.
Leiter der Gruppe and Präsident shoulder boards feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in gold and the centre in silver with black chevrons, as well as one pip.
Reichsbahnschutzführer and Vizepräsident shoulder boards feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in gold and the centre in silver with black chevrons.
Bahnschutzbevollmächtigter and Bezirkshauptführer shoulder boards feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in silver and the centre in silver with black chevrons, as well as two pips.
Stabsführer shoulder boards feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in silver and the centre in silver with black chevrons, as well as one pip.
Bezirksführer feature intertwined braiding with four bends and a button loop, with the outer sides in silver and the centre in silver with black chevrons.
Abteilungshauptführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid silver-coloured double cords with black chevrons, as well as two pips.
Oberabteilungsführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid silver-coloured double cords with black chevrons, as well as one pip.
Abteilungsführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid silver-coloured double cords with black chevrons.
Oberzugführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid double cords, the outer one silver-coloured with black chevrons, the inner one black with silver-coloured chevrons.
Zugführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid double cords, the outer one silver-coloured with black chevrons, the inner one black, as well as two pips.
Unterzugführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid double cords, the outer one silver-coloured with black chevrons, the inner one black, as well as one pip.
Gruppenführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid double cords, the outer one silver-coloured with black chevrons, the inner one black.
Stellvertretender Gruppenführer shoulder boards feature two double-laid black double cords with silver-coloured chevrons.
Bahnschutzmann shoulder boards feature two double-laid black double cords, the outer one with silver-coloured chevrons.
Anwärter shoulder boards feature two double laid black double cords.