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 greatcoat worn by Bahnpolizei members in the early days of the Third Reich was taken over from the late Weimar Republic period and was only slightly altered after the NSDAP came to power. The greatcoat of 1932 was made of black material. It is double-breasted with two rows of six gilt buttons each which feature the railway-style eagle emblem. The greatcoat features two concealed hip pockets with slanted flaps, but no breast pockets, except for an interior one on the left side. The right hip pocket has an additional compartment for the billy club.

The collar could be closed at the neck with a hook-and-eye. The sleeves are without cuffs but feature a quilting seam. The greatcoat has a slash on the back that can be closed by three black horn buttons. It reaches 15cm below the knee.

In 1933, the colour of the coat was changed to dark blue. The button colour was initially changed to field-grey, but was later changed again to silver-coloured. The 1933 greatcoat features turn-up cuffs. It was only worn by members in the rank of Bezirksführer and up.

This particular version was taken over by the Bahnschutzpolizei in 1939.