The Reichsbahn also had an infamous role to play in the Holocaust, transporting Jews and other “undesirables” to concentration and extermination camps. 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 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. It is in an overall better than very fine condition. Issues consistent with age and use are evident, and include some distortion of the structure of the side walls and crown, wear of the chinstrap, and fatigue of the leather. The cap measures approximately 265 mm (w) x 260 mm (l) x 150 mm (h). Also affixed to the crown is a white paper name tag reading “KARL GAUSTER”, with an additional size mark of “59”. The guard bears a fully-intact maker’s mark of “NEGELE UNIFORMEN, TÜBINGEN”, and is topped by a black ink size mark of “59”. The structure also features a complete brown oilcloth liner, with the crown retaining a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard. The interior is fully encompassed along the side walls with a brown leather sweatband measuring 42 mm in width. The chinstrap rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor, finished in a glossed black on the obverse and in a matte brown on the reverse. The cap band is also flanked on each side by a pebbled aluminum button which secured in place a decorative chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, adjusted with dual sliding knots. The former measures 70 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. Pinned onto the cap band directly underneath the eagle is a multi-piece insignia consisting of a felt and non-magnetic metal tricolour cockade, set within an aluminum oak leaf wreath joined together at the bottom by a Reichsbahn insignia. Embroidered onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of an aluminum Bahnschutzpolizei-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 62 mm (w) x 28 mm (h). Both the top and bottom edges of the cap band are trimmed with lengths of narrow white wool piping. The cap features cardstock-reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a smooth black doeskin wool cap band. A well-preserved Bahnschutzpolizei (Railway Protection Police) Officer’s upgraded visor cap, constructed of dark navy blue wool.

Casino visor cap