Reichsbahn Photos-Who, What, Where and When?

[Gotthard Heinrici]

They did indeed Cyberia but they had huge problems once they entered Russia because the Railway gauges changed once inside Soviet Territory. Huge headache from a logisitics point of view.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Gotthard Heinrici

They did indeed Cyberia but they had huge problems once they entered Russia because the Railway gauges changed once inside Soviet Territory. Huge headache from a logisitics point of view.

It was more than just the gauge of the track that caused a problem for the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Track construction itself was not up to German standards in terms of spacing of ties and the mechanism by which rail was attached to the ties. This resulted in reduced speed and payloads. There were also issues with the quality of Soviet coal for the locomotives and water for the boilers. Germany did make some use of captured Soviet rolling stock, but it was of dubious quality. What they used, they first had to re-wheel for narrow gauge use.

Of course the Soviets had their own track (re)building issues as they advanced and had to re-widen the gauge on track as they re-took their own territory, and widen the existing narrow gauge track as they advanced into the Baltics, Poland, Hungary, Germany, etc.

[cyberia]

A flak gun platform, this photo had "Ost" for Eastern Front penciled on the back




Vehicle transport cars and this one photograph is a odd one in the collection

It seems to be the only one in the group taken in either Bavaria or Austria

[Horch]

Looks nice. Almost wanna be there. Actually,I would.

[cyberia]

Troops moving a cartload of luggage through a train station





Women auxiliary members waving to a passing troop train

[cyberia]

Solider graffiti from the front on a boxcar returning to the Reich

Tactful translation is something alone the lines of, "Mama buy a new mattress for when Papa comes home."




An ambulance standing by for a hospital train from the front

[cyberia]

A lone sentry, somewhere in the East





Another from the East, most likely Russia

[cyberia]

Another occupation photo obviously taken in Poland

Bartering for food from locals

[Wustenfuchs]

Wow, that "Lone Sentry" pic invokes some strange emotions...kind of like that other railway pic you posted Paul.

[cyberia]

One silhouetted against the snow the other the fog. Kind of spooky aren't they.