Were there any decorations given to train engineers?

[Edward L. Hsiao]

What kind of German decorations that were given to German train crewmen including locomotive engineers? Running a locomotive while coming under fire from Allied fighters was very dangerous and requires special bravery. I haven't found a locomotive engineer that was a Knight's Cross holder.

Edward L. Hsiao

[hucks216]

The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross was a military award so wouldn't be given to civilians. However, the Knights cross of the War Merit Cross With/Without Swords was awarded to various people in the rail industry.

Lokomotivführer (engine-driver) Ernst Bierschenk 07.12.1943
Lokomotivführer (engine-driver) August Kindervater 07.12.1943
Oberrottenmeister Peter Hölzer 07.12.1944
Lokomotivführer Gustav Maldacker 07.12.1944

(see here for more names: https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-ca ... erit-cross )

[Hans1906]

Good afternoon Edward,

the german Reichsbahn "Lokomotivführer" and "Oberlokomotivführer" "ranks" were awarded with the so-called
"Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen" before 1945.

Andre Hüsken Militaria / Deutsche Reichsbahn: https://www.huesken.com/shop/de/deutsch ... sbahn.html

Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen
Civil Service Faithful Service Medal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Ser ... vice_Medal

Dienstränge der Deutschen Reichsbahn: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienstr%C ... Reichsbahn


Hans1906

P.S. In earlier years a very common decoration, especially the 25-years-award on every german flea market,
yesterdays snow...

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Thank you for your replies. Are there any pictures that you can share of train crewmen being decorated for their war services? I think it would be good to hear their testimonies about how their train managed to survive running though bad weather and low air attacks while in service for Germany during WWII.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

By the way does train crewmen carries small arms? Rifles,pistols,etc.

Edward L. Hsiao

[GregSingh]

And here is how the Day of the German Railway Worker was celebrated on the December 7th 1943 in Berlin, according to Völkischer Beobachter.
Lots of awards were given in Mosaiksaal of the Reich Chancellery in the morning. AH was absent, he was in Wolfsschanze on that day.
Later in the Theater des Volkes the six highest awards were presented. Names are listed in the article, including two engine-drivers from hucks216 post.
There seemed to be some absentees, as there are more names at the link from hucks216 post rewarded on that day with a Knights Cross to the War Merit Cross than six in the article...