German Reichsbahn Bahnschutzpolizei Abteilungsführer 19th Regiment Shoulder Board

Nice shoulder board feature two double-laid silver-colored double cords with black chevrons. Measures 115mm long with stamped gilt brass Reichsbahn insignia and numerals 19 for the regiment. Great hard to find board.

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.