Reichsbahnzentrale for German travel

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RDV information center in Berlin

The Reichsbahnzentrale für den Deutschen Reiseverkehr (RDV) was a company founded by the Deutsche Reichsbahn to promote tourism by rail. The predecessor organization was the Reichszentrale für deutsche Verkehrswerbung e. V. (RDV), founded in April 1920 in Berlin. On April 30, 1928, the association was converted into the Reichsbahnzentrale for Deutsche Reiseverkehr G. mb H. The sole shareholder was the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The abbreviation RDV and the logo with the impeller were retained after the name change.

In the beginning, the aim of the RDV was primarily to promote travel from abroad to Germany, and later also domestic traffic. To this end, information points were set up, various forms of advertising such as posters, information leaflets, books, films and pictures were used, press work was carried out and events were held.

Billboard advertising

RDV postcard with the title “ German Forest ” by Otto Altenkirch
RDV advertising poster for the Oberammergau Passion Play from 1934; Artist: Jupp Wiertz

The posters of the RDV, which advertised nationally known travel destinations, reached millions of copies. A poster motif by the commercial artist Jupp Wiertz for the Passion Play in Oberammergau won first place at the Conseil Central du Tourisme International in Paris in 1935.

Pamphlets

The RDV published a series of picture portfolios under the title Deutsche Bilder , which were available in bookshops. From 1925, pocket-book-like travel guides were issued under the title German Traffic Books. There were regional and thematic titles. Many appeared in several foreign languages. Various travel manuals and hotel guides completed the offer.

Foreign offices

In over forty cities in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia, the RDV maintained foreign offices ( German transport offices and information centers of the Deutsche Reichsbahn ) which, in addition to passing on posters and advertising material, also provided individual information on travel preparations. For the Olympic Games in 1936 , they advertised a visit to Germany with elaborate shop window decorations.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Headquarters of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (ed.): Hundred Years of German Railways , Berlin 1935, p. 321.
  2. ↑ a b c Thomas Noßke: The Reichsbahnzentrale for German travel , accessed on August 21, 2016.
  3. ↑ a b Headquarters of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (ed.): Hundred years of German railways, Berlin 1935, p. 322.
  4. ↑ Headquarters of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (ed.): Hundred Years of German Railways , Berlin 1935, p. 320a