Since its beginning until the year 1991, service ranks were a permanent element of service with the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the former German national railway system, whether as a civil servant or as an employee. Every railroad employee was obliged to wear the conferred insignia while on duty and entitled to do so off duty. The service rank was conferred with a certificate. The first conferral was designated as a certification, each additional conferral as a promotion.
Weimar Republic
Service Ranks from 1924 to 1935
As a result of a competition, a single service uniform that eliminated of the previous badges and embellishments was introduced throughout the Reich for all members of the Reichsbahn. Service rank and respective division were recognizable from the collar insignia.
Nazi Germany
Service Ranks from 1935 to 1945
Uniform regulations of 1935
In July 1935, a new uniform was introduced with specialty and division badges and epaulets as rank insignia for civil servants and workers.[1]
Rank insignia for the Deutsche Reichsbahn according to the uniform regulations of 1935.
Uniform regulations of 1941
The first uniform regulations of 1941 exchanged the pips on the epaulets for rosettes. They also introduced collar patches denoting career groups.[2]
East Germany
Service Ranks from 1945 to 1957
After the end of the Second World War, the pre-war service ranks were retained in the German Democratic Republic in the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany). The uniforms, however, were soon brought into accord with the Soviet model. This was especially apparent in the epaulets. Basically, many railway employees wore uniforms, and the military cut and service grades reflected the semi-military character of the railways in the GDR. This was combined with an overly elevated degree of security awareness, readiness, and secrecy.
Service Ranks from 1957 to 1962
The collar insignia borders of rank groups I to IV bore the colors of the respective main service branch. The example shows a collar insignia of the main service branch operations and traffic service (red).
Rank group I
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue interwoven with gold.
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Lehrling B+V-Helfer
Lehrl BV-Helf
Lehrling
Lehrl
Eisenbahner
Eb
Reichsbahn-Unterassistent and Zugschaffner
RUAss und Zsch
Reichsbahn-Assistent
RAss
Rank Group II
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue and gold in the relationship of 2:2.
The main service branches were recognizable from the colors of the piping on the caps as well as by the borders of the epaulets and collar insignia.
In this context
red for operations and traffic service
blue for mechanical management
gray for coach management
green for railroad property and construction
yellow for security and communications
Rank group I
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue interwoven with gold.
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Eisenbahner
Eb
Reichsbahn-Unterassistent and Zugschaffner
RUAss and Zsch
Reichsbahn-Assistent
RAss
Apprentices wore epaulets as with the Eisenbahner service rank, but instead of the star, one or two loops in gold with blue stripes were worn.
Rank Group II
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue and gold in the relationship of 2:2.
Service rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Reichsbahn-Untersekretär, Zugführer and Lokomotivheizer
RUS, Zf and Lokh
Reichsbahn-Sekretär and Reservelokomotivführer
RS and ResLf
Reichsbahn-Obersekretär and Lokomotivführer
ROS and Lf
Reichsbahn-Hauptsekretär and Oberlokomotivführer
RHS and OLf
Students of the GothaEngineering School, the Eisenach and Altenburg high schools and the Dresden engineering school for Railroad Studies wore the epaulets similar to the service rank of Reichsbahn-Untersekretär, except that instead of the stars, a gold loop with blue stripes was worn.
After the second semester, students in the engineering schools wore epaulets similar to Reichsbahn-Untersekretär, except that instead of stars, two gold loops with blue stripes were worn.
Service Ranks from 1974 to 1991
The color differentiation of the main service branches was retained (see 1962 to 1974)
The collar insignia borders of rank groups I to IV bore the colors of the respective main service branch. The example shows a collar insignia of the main service branch operations and traffic service (red).
Service ranks were discontinued by the Reichsbahn in 1991. Every employee received a note which stated only that he was entitled to continue wearing the previous rank "off duty".
Rank group I
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue interwoven with gold.
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Lehrling Teilausbildung
Lehrl Teilausb
Lehrling leaving the 8th class
Lehrl 8. Kl
Lehrling leaving the 10th class
Lehrl 10. Kl
Lehrling leaving the 10th class with Abitur
Lehrl Abi
Reichsbahn-Unterassistent
RUAss
Reichsbahn-Assistent
RAss
Reichsbahn-Oberassistent
ROAss
Reichsbahn-Hauptassistent
RHAss
Rank Group II
The cap gimp of this rank group was blue and gold in the relationship of 2:2.
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Reichsbahn-Untersekretär
RUS
Reichsbahn-Sekretär
RS
Reichsbahn-Obersekretär
ROS
Reichsbahn-Hauptsekretär
RHS
Rank Group III
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Student der Ingenieurschulen
Stud Ing
Student der Hochschule
Stud HfV
Absolvent der Hochschule
Abs HfV
Reichsbahn-Inspektor
RI
Reichsbahn-Oberinspektor
ROI
Reichsbahn-Amtmann
RA
Reichsbahn-Oberamtmann
ROA
Rank Group IV
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Reichsbahn-Rat
RR
Reichsbahn-Oberrat
ROR
Reichsbahn-Hauptrat
RHR
Rank Group V
Service Rank
Abbreviation
Epaulet
Reichsbahn-Direktor
RD
Reichsbahn-Oberdirektor
ROD
Reichsbahn-Hauptdirektor
RHD
Stellvertreter des Generaldirektors der DR
Stv. GD
Stellvertreter des Generaldirektors der DR, Staatssekretär, Stv. Minister
Stv. GD
Minister für Verkehrswesen und Generaldirektor der DR