BACKGROUND: When Hitler and the NSDAP gained power in January 1933 the German railway system was maintained and administered by two civilian organizations, the DR, Deutsches Reichsbahn, (German National Railway), and the, DR-G, Deutsches Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft, (German National Railway-Corporation), which were overseen by the national government. Both the DR, and the DR-G were uniformed organizations responsible for all the railways within Greater Germany and eventually in the occupied areas. In February 1937 in a restructuring of the national railways the DR-G was absorbed into the DR. The uniforms and insignia of the DR personnel were modified numerous times during the Third Reich including, July 1935 , June 1936, February 1941, September 1941 and February 1942. As a civilian organization DR personnel were not graded with ranks but were assigned positions as officials.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A Navy blue wool/rayon blend overseas cap, introduced in June 1936 along with the new uniform and rank insignia. Its gently sloping side panels are piped along their upper edge with red wool. Piping has some mothing. The cap has a small, machine woven national eagle and swastika to its top front above a machine woven, padded tri-color cockade. The interior is fully lined with grey cotton twill and has the faint inkstamps "54 W."