25 Inch Railway Eagle

Product Description: This 25 Inch Railway Eagle is an outstanding and extremely desirable example. This beautiful eagle has remained completely untouched and unaltered since it was brought home after WWII. The front retains all of the crisp original detail, with very attractive, mellow age toning and some areas of patina in the recesses of the design. The uncleaned toning gives this eagle a very striking, three dimensional look. The reverse of this 25 inch Railway Eagle shows heavy patina. All three of the original threaded attachment studs are present, with saw marks from having been cut when this eagle was removed from a train. This eagle is a textbook original piece, and is well marked, with a foundry logo marking, the size and designation “Wagen 600” indicating a 60 cm long eagle for a railway car, and the alloy composition marking “GAL-Mg.-Si.” It is also marked “ZA BL” presumably indicating “Zugadler (Train Eagle) Berlin.” This eagle truly has a great look and makes for an incredible display object. The condition rates as excellent.

Historical Description: During the Third Reich, 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.

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