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 2nd pattern Railway Protection belt buckle for Enlisted Ranks was worn by ranks up to and including Unterzugführer. It is rectangular, silver-coloured, and pebbled. The design is similar to that of the 1st pattern, with a wheel with two straight wings in the centre, surrounded by a circle with two rope-like borders, inside which is the semi-circular inscription “Deutsche Reichsbahn”. Additionally, there is a mobile swastika below the wheel, the wings are longer, and the wheel looks slightly different. The buckle was worn on a black leather belt. A gold-coloured variant exists, but its purpose is unknown.