Reichsbahn or Bahnpolizei button?

[HJ-Collector]

HPL, sorry I have to correct you. Eagle buttons were in use by Reichsbahn for
the great-coat (see image from an Assmann-catalogue). I thought they came
into being in early war, so about 1941. Have no time to check it as such!

Attachment 650695

Wim, i have just not long received this catalouge in reprinted form!

an worth buy imho!

[Erno]

There are some pages of an Assman catalog available to view online as well, although I don't see this particular Reichsbahn uniform button pictured there.

Firma F. W. Assmann & Sohne - Uniform buttons

[Wilhelm Saris]

The Assmann cataloque was a permanent cataloque where pages could have been taken out or added.
A complete cataloque so can have pages with a, b or c. One can add such page by unscrewing the
pins/stifts.

I have no reprint where the button is added, but in the hard covered cataloques with a soldier holding his
cap (see first image), in some occasions it is added. In one cataloque the Original cataloque owner added
it to page 38; in another cataloque I have it was added after page 52.

Note the cataloque in fact remained property of the Assmann-concern (see image 2). The correction is visible
with images 3 and 4. The button is at a spot where it was said that old insignia were no longer valid (the
early pattern NSDAP-eagle).

[stonemint]

Excellent research (as usual!) Wim.

I do not think these DRB buttons were issued widely during the war--most tunics/greatcoats one finds today have the pebble-finish buttons.

[Wilhelm Saris]

Hello Stonemint,

maybe they were not in use after all. The note is just in the Assmann-catalogue,
but when I read wartime uniform-orders and regulations they constantly say:
"buttons for the great-coat are as in use with the tunic" (for example July 1941).

It is possible the buttons were meant to be used with the new cut for the great-coat
as from a just later date (fall 1941). Due to the wartime situation it just remained
a plan and was not carried through after all! I have not found any regulation,
stating the new form of buttons in official Reichsbahn-regulations. The new cut for
the great-coat even was cancelled at a later stage of the war (October 1944), to
safe 30.0 cm cloth for each great-coat to be made.