Ranks of the Deutsche Reichsbahn

From the beginning until 1991, the rank of service at the Deutsche Reichsbahn was an integral part of the employment relationship of the railway worker, whether as a civil servant or as an employee . Every railroad worker was obliged in official traffic and was entitled to exercise the assigned rank outside of the office. The rank of service was awarded with a certificate, the first award being referred to as attestation and each subsequent award as promotion.

Certificate of attestation for the Reichsbahn secretary

The obligation to drive while on duty was abolished on the Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1991.

Ranks from 1924 to 1935

As a result of a competition has been throughout the Reich Germans for all members of the Reichsbahn a uniform uniforms introduced to most of the hitherto customary in the badge was waived and ornaments. The rank of service and the respective division were recognizable by the collar tabs.

Ranks from 1935 to 1945

From July 1935, a new uniform was introduced with professional and division badges and shoulder pieces as badges of rank for officials and workers.

Ranks from 1945 to 1957

Reichsbahn uniforms 1955

After the end of the Second World War , the ranks of the Deutsche Reichsbahn were retained in the Soviet Zone and GDR , but the uniform was soon based on the Soviet model. This was particularly evident on the shoulder pieces. Basically, many railway workers were in uniform and the military cut and ranks reflected the semi-military character of the railroad in the GDR. This was combined with an exaggerated awareness of security, readiness and secrecy.

Ranks from 1957 to 1962

The collar tabs and shoulder pieces of the ranks I to IV were outlined in the color of the respective main service branch red, blue, green, yellow and black, in the example a collar tab of the main service branch operations and traffic service (red)

Rank group I.

The cap cord of this rank group was blue, interwoven with gold.

Rank	abbreviation	Shoulder piece
Apprentice B + V helper	Lehrl BV-Helf
apprentice	Apprentice
railwayman	Eb
Reichsbahn assistant and train conductor	RUAss and Zsch
Reichsbahn assistant	RAss

Rank group II

The cap cord of this ranking group was blue and gold in a ratio of 2: 2.

Rank	abbreviation	Shoulder piece
Engineering student first semester	Ingsch
Engineering student from the second semester	Ingsch
Reichsbahn undersecretary, train driver, locomotive heater	RUS, Zf, Lokh
Reichsbahn secretary and reserve locomotive driver	RS and ResLf
Reichsbahn senior secretary and engine driver	ROS and Lf
Reichsbahn chief secretary and chief locomotive driver	RHS and OLf

Rank III

The cap cord of this rank group was interwoven with gold and blue.

Rank	abbreviation	Shoulder piece
Technical college graduate	Fachschabs
University graduate	Hochschabs
Extraordinary Reichsbahn inspector	ap RI
Reichsbahn inspector	RI
Reichsbahn chief inspector	ROI
Extraordinary Reichsbahn official	ap RA
Reichsbahn official	RA
Reichsbahn-Oberamtmann	ROA

Rank IV

The cap cord corresponded to that of rank group III (gold, blue interwoven).

Rank	abbreviation	Shoulder piece
Reichsbahn Council	RR
Reichsbahn-Oberrat	ROR
Reichsbahn main councilor	RHR

Ranking group V

The color of the border around the shoulder pieces was red for the vice-president, president, general director and his deputy, and the border around the collar tabs from the Reichsbahn director was gold. The cap cord of this ranking group was gold.

Rank	abbreviation	Shoulder piece
Reichsbahn director	RD
Reichsbahn chief director	ROD
Reichsbahn chief director	RHD
Deputy General Director of DR	Deputy GD
General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn	GD

Ranks from 1962 to 1974

The main branches of service were recognizable by the colors of the tucks on the caps and by the borders of the shoulder pieces and collar tabs. It stood

red for operations and traffic services,
blue for machine management,
gray for Wagenwirtschaft,
green for railway systems and railway construction,
yellow for security and telecommunications.