Description
Excellent and very desirable Third Reich period (Reichsbahn) railway locomotive/train car eagle in alloy. Wonderful 24 inch (54cm) example in very good condition, still shows sharp details and clear signs of never being cleaned or altered since it was pried off from whatever it was attached to. The eagle is produced in aluminum with a gold front exterior, this gold has never been cleaned and shows a wonderful layer of patina over the finish. This eagle was made by the uncommon maker ‘G.H.P.’ (Gustav Hähl, from Pforzheim), the front of the aluminum eagle was eloxal treated to create the golden color and could therefor be rated as very rare! A beautiful example, would look great in any collection room!
Note – During the Third Reich period, all rail transport was nationalized and organized under the German Reichsbahn. Reichsbahn rail cars were state property and included everything from the locomotives used for transporting freight, to passenger cars, street cars and trolleys. In the Nazi era, and during WWII, the Reichsbahn adorned their locomotives and passenger rail cars with large metal decorative German eagle and swastika national emblems. These were made in various sizes and had a variety of finishes to suit different purposes and vehicle types. Generally, these eagles were manufactured from aluminum or zinc alloy, with integral threaded studs on the reverse that were used to affix these to the fronts of rail cars. These eagles had a striking and imposing appearance and were an iconic part of Nazi regalia. After the war, Allied denazification policies required these to be removed. Many were destroyed, though these were eagerly sought after by Allied troops hunting for souvenirs. They are extremely collectible and desirable artifacts today.
