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.

Shoulder boards for Reichsbahn personnel were first introduced with the uniform regulations of July 1935. An addition was made in December of that year when the highest rank group was split into multiple ranks and received four additional shoulder boards.

Reichsbahn shoulder boards, with few exceptions, feature a red cloth underlay. The initial measurements were 115x35mm for higher ranks and 110x26mm for lower ranks. Rank pips were in the shape of four-sided stars.
Beginning in October of 1939, all shoulder boards worn in the General Government (occupied Poland) featured a metal cypher in the form of a silver-coloured winged wheel.

Bahnschutz shoulder boards were introduced at some point in 1936 or 1937. The shoulder boards feature railway directorate numbers for all ranks, up to and including the President. NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) and EM (Enlisted Men) ranks used machine-woven ones, while Officer ranks from Abteilungsführer and up used white or yellow metal ones.
It is assumed that the Bahnschutz shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the regular Reichsbahn personnel. However, this could not be verified due to a lack of sources and information.

The 1935 pattern of shoulder boards is as follows:
Director General shoulder boards feature two triple-cords intertwined in a braid with five bends and a buttonhole. The triple-cords feature two gold-coloured outer cords and a silver-coloured inner cord. The silver-coloured cord features dark blue chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom, and in between them a gold-coloured metal cypher in the form of intertwined letters “G” and “D” (for Generaldirektor).
Deputy Director General shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that the cypher is silver-coloured.
Director shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature a “GD” cypher.
Railway Direction President shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Pay group 1 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 2 shoulder boards feature two yellow double-cords with dark blue chevrons intertwined in a braid with five bends and a buttonhole. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 3 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Extrabudgetary pay group 3 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 4&4a shoulder boards feature two yellow double-cords with dark blue chevrons, as well as a dark blue centre line, intertwined in a braid with five bends and a buttonhole. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature one rank pip.
Pay group 5 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 6 shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double-cords in yellow with dark blue chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 7 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Pay group 7a&8 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 9&9a shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double-cords in yellow with dark blue chevrons. The chevrons on the outer cord are much thicker than those on the inner cord. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 10&11 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Extrabudgetary pay group 11 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 12&13 shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double-cords, the outer one in yellow with dark blue chevrons, the inner one in dark blue. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 14&14a shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Pay group 15 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Railway Directory Messenger shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double-cords in dark blue with yellow chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 16 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Pay group 17&17a shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Elevated Career Candidate shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double-cords in dark blue, as well as two yellow-coloured strips of “Tresse” (braid) at the bottom, one over the other.
Lower Career Candidate shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one strip of “Tresse”.

Civil Servant Candidate shoulder boards feature plain dark blue cloth, as well as one yellow-coloured strip of “Tresse” at the bottom.
Auxiliary Worker shoulder boards feature plain dark blue cloth.

In February of 1941, some changes were implemented. The four-sided star-shaped rank pips were exchanged for eight-sided rosettes. A new design of shoulder boards with dark blue cloth underlay was introduced for pay group 5 and above, measuring 100x30mm. All lower ranked shoulder boards remained the same, except for the rosettes.

The 1941 pattern higher leader shoulder boards are as follows:
Railway Direction President & Undersecretary shoulder boards feature two triple-cords intertwined in a braid with five bends and a buttonhole. The triple-cords feature two golden-yellow outer cords with dark blue chevrons and a dark blue inner cord with silver-coloured chevrons and silver-coloured borders. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature one rank pip.
Pay group 1 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Pay group 1a shoulder boards feature two double-cords intertwined in a braid with five bends and a buttonhole. The double-cords are golden-yellow with dark blue chevrons and dark blue centre lines. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature three rank pips, one at the top and two side by side at the bottom.
Pay group 2 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom.
Pay group 3&4&4a shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Pay group 5 shoulder boards are of the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

In February of 1944, the rosettes were replaced again by gold-coloured star-shaped rank pips for pay groups 5 and above. Their shoulder boards also went through another design change, while those of pay groups lower than 5 remained unchanged once again.
All shoulder boards of pay groups 5 and above featured a dark blue cloth underlay, and all except pay group 5 feature a gold-coloured border. The design is that of two intertwined triple-cords for the highest ranks and double-cords for pay groups 1 through 5 braided with five bends and a buttonhole. The triple-cords for the highest ranks are dark blue on the outside and gold-coloured in the centre. The double-cords for pay groups 1 through 5 are dark blue.

The 1944 pattern higher leader shoulder boards are as follows:
Director General shoulder boards feature a metal cypher in the form of a national eagle emblem, as well as two rank pips.
Deputy Director General shoulder boards are the same design as the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.

Ministerial Director shoulder boards feature two rank pips.
Railway Directorate President shoulder boards feature one rank pip.
Undersecretary shoulder boards feature no rank pips.

Pay group 1 shoulder boards feature two rank pips.
Pay group 1a&2 shoulder boards feature one rank pip.
Pay group 3&4&4a shoulder boards feature no rank pips.

Pay group 5 shoulder boards feature no rank pips. As of April of 1944, they were given a border of alternating dark blue and gold colours.