Two Reichsbahn Personnel Eating Their Lunch

Look like this picture was taken yesterday (and they are a bunch of reenactors), but actually it was taken during World War II! It shows the personnel of Reichsbahn (German Reich Railway) eating their lunch. The picture was taken in 1944 by Walter Hollnagel. In August 1944, this German photographer was tasked to photographed the state of the Italian railways (please note that after the Italians concluded a truce with the Allies on 8 September 1943, most of the country was occupied by the German army). While the Allied forces were slowly moving forward, the Anglo-American aircraft delivered destructive attacks on infrastructure facilities. Back to the picture: The man on the right is an official of pay group 8 or 7a or a supernumerary official of pay group 7. His actual "rank" designation depends on his occupational specialty; he could be a Kanzleisekretär, Kanzleivorsteher, Reichsbahnobersekretär, Vermessungsobersekretär, Lokomotivbetriebsrevisor, Betriebsoberwerkmeister or Oberlokomotivführer. There's no way to tell for the man on the left. Not much to say about the uniforms; they are wearing normal Reichsbahn service dress. From the badges and insignia, it's probably an early-war photograph. (The sidecap for men as worn by the official on the left was introduced around the outbreak of war. However, his colleague is not yet wearing the large wings on the cap band of the service cap and the duty station insignia on the left upper tunic sleeve, both of which were introduced in 1941.)

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/foto-berwarna-deutsche-reichsbahn-drb.html
https://eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Deutsche%20Reichsbahn%20Gesellschaft
https://flackelf.livejournal.com/214873.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=213048&start=105
https://www.vintag.es/2012/12/fire-at-train-station-of-florence-italy.html
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5937803

Result of an Air Raid on German Town

Result of an air raid on an unknown (north?) German city. The picture was made in 1943 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Signposts in occupied Warsaw

Signposts in occupied Warsaw. The picture was made in 1943 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

FS-741 241 freight locomotive makes its way over the last skiable track in Ancona train station

The FS-741 241 freight locomotive makes its way over the last skiable track in Ancona train station. The repaired tracks can still bring the locomotive and personnel in danger after the devastating Allied air attack. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

The completely destroyed facilities of the Ancona railway station in northern Italy

The completely destroyed facilities of the Ancona railway station in northern Italy. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Not much left in Ancona Train Station after an Allied air raid

Not much left in Ancona Train Station after an Allied air raid. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

A 741 FS locomotive carves its way carefully through the chaos in Ancona train station

A 741 FS locomotive carves its way carefully through the chaos in Ancona train station. The picture was made in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Bomb Crater in Ancona Railway Station

An aerial mine with tremendous destructive power of a crater in the track area of the station of Ancona, which ruptured water pipes and quickly formed an artificial lake. The picture was taken in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:

Damage After Allied Air Raid in the Railway Station of Ancona

Damage after Allied air raid in the railway station of Ancona. The picture was taken in 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Ruins of the Ancona Railway Station

Perhaps so many shots of public buildings were on the edge of their official functions, because the Allied air superiority made their main function no longer possible, as here in Ancona railway station on the Adriatic coast of Italy. The picture was taken by Walter Hollnagel in the summer of 1944

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Retreating German Soldiers in Oxcart

Walter Hollnagel used the destroyed houses line to raise a point of view for this photographic material. The holiday mood on the Adriatic town of Ancona is not shown, only a retreating German soldiers in oxcart, also car and trolley which not spared in the last Allied attack to that city

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Row of Houses near the Railway Station of Ancona

Even the dreariness tried to give an artistic painting, as in this reflection of a row of houses near the railway station of Ancona, from which are only the external facades. The picture was taken by Walter Hollnagel in June 1944

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Withdrawing German Troops Near Train Station of Ancona

A day before Walter Hollnagel arrived as a photographer of the RVM (Reichsverkehrsministerium) in Italy, Rome was occupied by the Allies on 4 June 1944 without resistance. We can only speculate then about the propagandistic success of Hollnagel mission there. The image that he made ​​of the withdrawing troops near the train station of Ancona on the Adriatic today are described as a unique historical document in color that we want to show here, although sometimes lack of direct rail reference

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Railway Destruction at Rioveggio

This destruction of the railway was caused by a partisan attack which targeted for disruption of rail services in Rioveggio, north Italia. The picture was taken by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel in August 1944

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Sabotaged Monzuno Train Tunnel

Air attacks and guerrilla attacks, such as shown here at the train tunnel of Monzuno (route Bologna - Prato) showed obvious effect. It started immediately to rebuild the infrastructure. The picture was taken in August 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Milan Train Station

the roof of the imposing structure in Milan railway station and the improvised long passenger train indicate the circumstances of the war. The picture was taken in August 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

The Extent of the Destruction in Florence

The elevated position clarifies the extent of the destruction after an American air attack on the Tuscan capital Florence. The picture was taken in August 1944 by Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Targeted strikes at Reichsbahn Infrastructure in Northern Italy

Targeted air strikes and guerrilla attacks in the summer of 1944 in northern Italy caused lasting damage to the infrastructure, such as here on the route of Bologna - Prato. The picture was taken in August 1944 by Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Tavernelle-Emilia train station

In the Tavernelle-Emilia train station (north of Bologna) it goes quite relaxed and seemingly everything takes its usual course. At the right is E 626 114 locomotive. The picture was taken in July 1944 by Reichsbahn photographer Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg

Italian Train Station After Allied Bombing

An unknown train station in Italy rendered useless by the Allied bombing. The picture was taken in July 1944 by Walter Hollnagel

Source:
http://www.eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Reichsbahn%20im%20Krieg