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Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany)

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618:(State Railways of the GDR) along the lines of other East German institutions, the Western Allies would probably have refused to recognise it as the same or a successor organization and removed its right to operate in West Berlin. The legal necessity of keeping the term 'Deutsche Reichsbahn' explains the unique use of the word 'Reich' (with its Imperial and Nazi connotations) in the name of an official organisation of the communist GDR. This quasi-official presence in West Berlin was apparently of an utmost importance to the GDR regime, otherwise it is hard to explain why the anti-imperialist and cash-strapped GDR government was willing to both continue using the word 'Reich' and incur large 43: 703:, the DR and DB continued to operate as separate entities in their respective service areas, albeit under a coordination agreement concerning operations. On 1 June 1992, the DB and DR formed a joint board of directors which governed both entities. The merger between the DR and DB was delayed by several years over the structure of the merged railway due to concerns by German politicians on the ever-increasing annual operating deficits incurred by the DB and DR. The 457: 115: 540:(DB) maintained a ticket office in West Berlin for many years on Hardenbergstraße near the main Zoological Garden railway station that was run by the Eastern Reichsbahn. One reason for this was due to the generally poor customer service offered at the DR's ticket counters . Another reason may have been psychological – to promote a visible West German government presence in West Berlin. 1035: 985: 657: 631: 672:. The BVG gradually restored much of the S-Bahn service that had been previously reduced. Following the reunification in October 1990, the arrangements were kept until the creation of Deutsche Bahn AG on 1 January 1994 when the new company took over all S-Bahn operations in the Greater Berlin region. 613:
as it was mentioned as such in transit treaties. After the foundation of East Germany on 7 October 1949 the East German government continued to run all the railways in its territory under the official name Deutsche Reichsbahn, by so doing it maintained responsibility for almost all railway transport
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When the GDR's energy costs began to rise dramatically in the early 1980s (in part because the Soviet Union ceased to subsidize the price of fuel sold to the GDR), the DR embarked on a large rail electrification campaign as the GDR's electrical power grid could be supplied with electricity generated
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Due to the Four-Power Occupation Agreements for Berlin, in which the long-term division of Germany and Berlin (the partition of Germany into two German states; and Berlin partitioned into two principal zones of occupation, West Berlin and East Berlin) was not foreseen, the DR operated the long-haul
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Steam engines were the workhorses after the war and remained important for a long time into the period of German partition. The DR's last steam engine (on normal-gauge tracks) was taken out of service on 28 May 1988. Much of the electrified rail network that existed in (present-day) eastern Germany
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on 13 August 1961, many West Berliners boycotted the S-Bahn in West Berlin. After a strike by West Berlin-based DR employees in September 1980, the S-Bahn service in West Berlin was greatly reduced. Almost half of the West Berlin S-Bahn railway network was closed following this action, including
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in the early years of Soviet occupation. By the early 1970s, only a small portion of the tracks in the GDR had been electrified in comparison with those in Western Europe; the GDR leadership chose to reduce the pace of electrification and instead relied on mostly Russian-made
507:(and also after the reunification of Germany) until the merger of the DR and DB in January 1994. This led to unique situations due to the occupied status of West Berlin and the presence of the DR there. For example, there were 424:. Fares were fairly cheap, but trains tended to be overcrowded and slow, owing in part to the poor condition of most railway lines in the GDR. The DR did offer a limited number of express trains such as the "Neptun" ( 810: 704: 602:. DR conductors and engine crews managed these trains while military transport officers and soldiers dealt with their passengers and the Soviet military checkpoint officials at Marienborn. 679:
was not restored until after reunification (in phases, from 1993 to 2002). Capital projects continue to address the backlog of construction needs that developed during the DR-GDR era.
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The presence of the DR in West Berlin was costly to the GDR – the annual operating deficit for the DR in West Berlin in the early 1980s was estimated to be around 120-140 million
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Dürr was also concurrently chairman of the board of the DB. He later served as the chairman of the joint board of directors of the DB and DR from June 1992 – January 1994.
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until 1994 when the Russian military finally withdrew from Germany. Each of the Western Allies also maintained its stations and ticket offices in its respective zone:
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It took several years to fully restore all of S-Bahn services throughout the Greater Berlin region. Service on the West Berlin portion of the
511:(railway police) employed by the DR in their West Berlin railway stations who were controlled by the GDR Interior Ministry, although the three 30:
This article is about the state railway of the former post-war East Germany. For its pan-Germany predecessor during the inter-war years, see
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entered into force and turned over the responsibility for the operation of the S-Bahn in West Berlin to the West Berlin transport authority
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in 1993 and went into effect on 1 January 1994, that included the planned merger between the DR and DB on 1 January 1994 to form the
335:. From November 1954 until November 1989, the GDR Minister of Transport also occupied the position of the Director General of the DR 1009: 967: 944: 921: 898: 875: 815: 94: 852: 1120: 580: 416:. By 1989, 17.2% of the passenger transport volume in the GDR was handled by the DR – three times the market share of the 55: 696: 660:
Patchwork conditions on the West Berlin S-Bahn were illustrated in 1969 by this station on the Lichterfelde-Süd Line.
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In March 1971, the DR's Interzone express departs Hamburg for Berlin with class 01.5 steam power, a 4-6-2 "Pacific".
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Both the Reichsbahn and the Bundesbahn continued as separate entities until 1994, when they merged to form the
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In 1969 a third-rail S-Bahn train eases past West Berlin firemen fighting a trackside fire in untrimmed brush.
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The DR was centrally directed according to socialist principles within the context of a centrally planned
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local train service in West Berlin during much of the Cold War period. Following the erection of the
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had separate patrols who were empowered to maintain law and order in the West Berlin railway stations.
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The DR was the largest employer in the GDR and as a state-owned firm was directly subordinated to the
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The Western Allies operated military trains over DR lines converging on the route between Berlin-
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between the two German states signed on 31 August 1990 established the DR as special property
609:. The status of Berlin is also believed to be the reason the East Germans retained the name 545: 475: 433: 301:
or GDR on 7 October 1949) continued to run as the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the name given to the
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Deutsche Reichsbahn Confidential: Poison Trains, Military Transports, Secret Projects
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The Deutsche Reichsbahn in West Berlin - Interzonal Traffic, the S-Bahn and the DR
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Die Deutsche Reichsbahn in West-Berlin – Interzonenverkehr, die S-Bahn und die DR
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Das Buch der Deutschen Reichsbahn: Erinnerungen an den Schienenverkehr in der DDR
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due to the easy availability of fuel from the Soviet Union at subsidised prices.
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Another oddity was the presence of a ticket counter at the East Berlin station
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The company was administratively subdivided into eight regional directorates
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services to the DR, both on board trains and in stations, were provided by
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The Book of the Deutsche Reichsbahn: Memories of Rail Transport in the GDR
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the closure of the western portion of the Berlin circular ring railway (
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Deutsche Reichsbahn geheim: Giftzüge, Militärtransporte, Geheimprojekte
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in all four sectors of Berlin. Had the DR been renamed, for example,
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Der Reichsbahn-Report: 1945–1993; Tatsachen, Legenden, Hintergründe
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The Album of the Deutsche Reichsbahn: Railway Everyday in the GDR
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List of East German Deutsche Reichsbahn locomotives and railbuses
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deficits to operate and maintain the West Berlin railway system.
285:'s railways were returned to German control after four years of 1005: 864:
Das Album der Deutschen Reichsbahn: Eisenbahnalltag in der DDR
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The Reichsbahn Report: 1945–1993; Facts, Legends, Backgrounds
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proposed a comprehensive reform of the German railway system
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Deutsche Reichsbahn intern geheime Akten, brisante Tatsachen
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State railway of the German Democratic Republic (1945–1993)
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Deutsche Reichsbahn Secret Internal Files, Explosive Facts
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On 9 January 1984, a treaty between the GDR and the
1101: 1070: 1044: 224: 201: 191: 180: 162: 144: 134: 124: 939:] (in German). Stuttgart: Transpress Verlag. 916:] (in German). Stuttgart: Transpress Verlag. 64:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks 339:. The headquarters of the DR were located in 1017: 962:] (in German). München: GeraMond Verlag. 847:] (in German). München: GeraMond Verlag. 626:The S-Bahn in West Berlin during the Cold War 8: 107: 1024: 1010: 1002: 482:from the burning of domestically produced 337:(Generaldirektor der Deutschen Reichsbahn) 106: 683:The DR after the reunification of Germany 465:in 1945 had been removed and sent to the 95:Learn how and when to remove this message 1192:Railway companies disestablished in 1993 1182:Government organisations in East Germany 1212:German companies disestablished in 1993 444:), and "Balt-Orient-Express" (Berlin – 351:and across from the site of the former 954:Preuss, Erich; Preuss, Reiner (2011). 309:, the Reichsbahn was succeeded by the 266:was the operating name of state owned 119:"DR-Kreis" logo used from 1949 to 1994 1187:Railway companies established in 1949 1057:History of the railway in Württemberg 687:Article 26 of the Unification Treaty 7: 1197:History of rail transport in Germany 1177:Defunct railway companies of Germany 1052:History of rail transport in Germany 490:The DR in Berlin during the Cold War 1207:1949 establishments in East Germany 556:from 1987 to 1998) operated by the 1088:Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) 499:and barge canals in both East and 25: 816:Deutsche Reichsbahn service ranks 333:(Ministerium für Verkehr der DDR) 1093:Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft 1033: 983: 113: 41: 787:Chairman of the board of the DR 1202:Rail transport in East Germany 1: 705:Federal Ministry of Transport 503:throughout the years of the 733:Directors General of the DR 708:(Bundesverkehrsministerium) 697:Federal Republic of Germany 1228: 714:which was approved by the 299:German Democratic Republic 29: 990:Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR) 638:The DR also operated the 330:GDR Ministry of Transport 112: 18:Deutsche Reichsbahn (DDR) 1071:German railway companies 1039:German railway companies 908:Kuhlmann, Bernd (2020). 885:Kuhlmann, Bernd (2013). 303:German national railways 50:This article includes a 616:Staatseisenbahn der DDR 360:(Reichsbahndirektionen) 264:(German Reich Railways) 79:more precise citations. 1045:German railway history 931:Preuss, Erich (2001). 661: 635: 461: 440:), "Karlex" (Berlin – 295:Soviet occupation zone 278:until 1 January 1994. 168:; 30 years ago 150:; 74 years ago 992:at Wikimedia Commons 862:Heym, Rudolf (2010). 839:Heym, Rudolf (2003). 659: 633: 459: 362:with headquarters in 1083:Deutsche Bundesbahn 611:Deutsche Reichsbahn 538:Deutsche Bundesbahn 418:Deutsche Bundesbahn 311:Deutsche Bundesbahn 274:, and after German 257:Deutsche Reichsbahn 186:Deutsche Bundesbahn 166:1 January 1994 148:7 October 1949 139:Deutsche Reichsbahn 109: 108:Deutsche Reichsbahn 32:Deutsche Reichsbahn 723:Aktiengesellschaft 689:(Einigungsvertrag) 666:West Berlin Senate 662: 636: 476:diesel locomotives 462: 297:(which became the 289:control following 52:list of references 1164: 1163: 988:Media related to 745:Willi Kreikemeyer 546:Berlin Ostbahnhof 408:Passenger service 353:Reich Chancellery 253: 252: 105: 104: 97: 16:(Redirected from 1219: 1038: 1037: 1026: 1019: 1012: 1003: 987: 973: 950: 927: 904: 881: 858: 693:(Sondervermögen) 579:United Kingdom: 536:The West German 495:railway service 283:occupied Germany 246: 238: 176: 174: 169: 158: 156: 151: 117: 110: 100: 93: 89: 86: 80: 75:this article by 66:inline citations 45: 44: 37: 21: 1227: 1226: 1222: 1221: 1220: 1218: 1217: 1216: 1167: 1166: 1165: 1160: 1111:Alsace-Lorraine 1097: 1066: 1040: 1032: 1030: 981: 976: 970: 953: 947: 930: 924: 907: 901: 884: 878: 861: 855: 838: 834: 807: 789: 735: 685: 628: 572:United States: 492: 471:war reparations 454: 452:Electrification 414:command economy 410: 347:, close to the 326: 293:. 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In 291:World War II 280: 272:East Germany 263: 260: 256: 254: 234:East Germany 218:East Germany 202:Headquarters 184:Merged with 91: 82: 71:Please help 63: 1131:Mecklenburg 795:(1991–1992) 777:(1991–1992) 771:(1990–1991) 765:(1989–1990) 759:(1970–1989) 753:(1950–1970) 747:(1949–1950) 741:(1946–1949) 644:Berlin Wall 509:Bahnpolizei 501:West Berlin 349:Berlin Wall 341:East Berlin 245:(1990–1994) 237:(1949–1990) 226:Area served 212:East Berlin 135:Predecessor 77:introducing 1171:Categories 1141:Palatinate 854:3765472468 832:References 793:Heinz Dürr 775:Heinz Dürr 769:Hans Klemm 757:Otto Arndt 600:Marienborn 549:(known as 430:Copenhagen 380:Greifswald 343:at No. 33 173:1994-01-01 155:1949-10-07 1136:Oldenburg 826:Interflug 716:Bundestag 446:Bucharest 434:Vindobona 388:Magdeburg 345:Voßstraße 281:In 1949, 207:Voßstraße 192:Successor 85:June 2020 805:See also 677:Ringbahn 650:Ringbahn 586:France: 505:Cold War 442:Carlsbad 420:(DB) in 398:Catering 392:Schwerin 268:railways 125:Industry 1146:Prussia 1121:Bavaria 695:of the 596:Wannsee 562:Russian 560:(later 551:Berlin 530:Polizei 484:lignite 402:Mitropa 372:Dresden 368:Cottbus 270:in the 242:Germany 171: ( 163:Defunct 153: ( 145:Founded 73:improve 1151:Saxony 966:  943:  920:  897:  874:  851:  640:S-Bahn 566:Moscow 558:Soviet 525:France 523:, and 438:Vienna 426:Berlin 390:, and 376:Erfurt 364:Berlin 313:(DB). 287:Allied 1126:Hesse 1116:Baden 958:[ 935:[ 912:[ 889:[ 866:[ 843:[ 588:Tegel 583:; and 576:West; 515:(the 384:Halle 58:, or 964:ISBN 941:ISBN 918:ISBN 895:ISBN 872:ISBN 849:ISBN 598:and 432:), " 255:The 181:Fate 725:or 670:BVG 653:). 469:as 448:). 259:or 205:33 1173:: 727:AG 519:, 428:– 404:. 394:. 386:, 382:, 378:, 374:, 370:, 366:, 355:. 320:. 261:DR 215:, 209:, 62:, 54:, 1025:e 1018:t 1011:v 972:. 949:. 926:. 903:. 880:. 857:. 590:. 175:) 157:) 98:) 92:( 87:) 83:( 69:. 34:. 20:)

Index

Deutsche Reichsbahn (DDR)
Deutsche Reichsbahn
list of references
related reading
external links
inline citations
improve
introducing
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Rail transport
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Bundesbahn
Deutsche Bahn
Voßstraße
East Berlin
East Germany
East Germany
Germany
railways
East Germany
reunification
occupied Germany
Allied
World War II
Soviet occupation zone
German Democratic Republic
German national railways
West Germany
Deutsche Bundesbahn

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