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Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany)

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607:(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 32: 446: 104: 692:, 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 1024: 974: 646: 620: 529:(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. 661:. 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. 602:
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
496:(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 413:. 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" ( 591:. 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. 668:
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
500:(railway police) employed by the DR in their West Berlin railway stations who were controlled by the GDR Interior Ministry, although the three 61: 1185: 1165: 19:
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
1195: 1081: 553:) military to facilitate transport of their personnel to and from Russia. A special military train regularly operated between Berlin and 978: 707:
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
324:. From November 1954 until November 1989, the GDR Minister of Transport also occupied the position of the Director General of the DR 1045: 1190: 1124: 1005: 1099: 1040: 405:. By 1989, 17.2% of the passenger transport volume in the GDR was handled by the DR – three times the market share of the 1114: 1144: 1104: 998: 956: 933: 910: 887: 864: 804: 649:
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
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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.
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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
775: 928:] (in German). Stuttgart: Transpress Verlag. 905:] (in German). Stuttgart: Transpress Verlag. 1157: 53:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks 721: 328:. The headquarters of the DR were located in 1006: 951:] (in German). München: GeraMond Verlag. 836:] (in German). München: GeraMond Verlag. 615:The S-Bahn in West Berlin during the Cold War 942: 1013: 999: 471:from the burning of domestically produced 326:(Generaldirektor der Deutschen Reichsbahn) 672:The DR after the reunification of Germany 454:in 1945 had been removed and sent to the 84:Learn how and when to remove this message 1181:Railway companies disestablished in 1993 1171:Government organisations in East Germany 896: 873: 644: 618: 444: 1201:German companies disestablished in 1993 433:), and "Balt-Orient-Express" (Berlin – 340:and across from the site of the former 1158: 943:Preuss, Erich; Preuss, Reiner (2011). 919: 298:, the Reichsbahn was succeeded by the 255:was the operating name of state owned 108:"DR-Kreis" logo used from 1949 to 1994 1176:Railway companies established in 1949 1046:History of the railway in Württemberg 994: 676:Article 26 of the Unification Treaty 1186:History of rail transport in Germany 1166:Defunct railway companies of Germany 1041:History of rail transport in Germany 850: 827: 479:The DR in Berlin during the Cold War 396: 25: 1196:1949 establishments in East Germany 545:from 1987 to 1998) operated by the 13: 1077:Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) 488:and barge canals in both East and 440: 14: 1212: 967: 805:Deutsche Reichsbahn service ranks 322:(Ministerium für Verkehr der DDR) 1082:Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft 1022: 972: 102: 30: 776:Chairman of the board of the DR 312: 1191:Rail transport in East Germany 1: 820: 694:Federal Ministry of Transport 492:throughout the years of the 7: 793: 722:Directors General of the DR 697:(Bundesverkehrsministerium) 686:Federal Republic of Germany 10: 1217: 703:which was approved by the 288:German Democratic Republic 18: 1090: 1059: 1033: 979:Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR) 627:The DR also operated the 319:GDR Ministry of Transport 213: 190: 180: 169: 151: 133: 123: 113: 101: 1060:German railway companies 1028:German railway companies 897:Kuhlmann, Bernd (2020). 874:Kuhlmann, Bernd (2013). 292:German national railways 39:This article includes a 605:Staatseisenbahn der DDR 349:(Reichsbahndirektionen) 253:(German Reich Railways) 68:more precise citations. 1034:German railway history 920:Preuss, Erich (2001). 650: 624: 450: 429:), "Karlex" (Berlin – 284:Soviet occupation zone 267:until 1 January 1994. 157:; 30 years ago 139:; 74 years ago 981:at Wikimedia Commons 851:Heym, Rudolf (2010). 828:Heym, Rudolf (2003). 648: 622: 448: 351:with headquarters in 1072:Deutsche Bundesbahn 600:Deutsche Reichsbahn 527:Deutsche Bundesbahn 407:Deutsche Bundesbahn 300:Deutsche Bundesbahn 263:, and after German 246:Deutsche Reichsbahn 175:Deutsche Bundesbahn 155:1 January 1994 137:7 October 1949 128:Deutsche Reichsbahn 98: 97:Deutsche Reichsbahn 21:Deutsche Reichsbahn 712:Aktiengesellschaft 678:(Einigungsvertrag) 655:West Berlin Senate 651: 625: 465:diesel locomotives 451: 286:(which became the 278:control following 96: 41:list of references 1153: 1152: 977:Media related to 734:Willi Kreikemeyer 535:Berlin Ostbahnhof 397:Passenger service 342:Reich Chancellery 242: 241: 94: 93: 86: 1208: 1027: 1026: 1015: 1008: 1001: 992: 991: 976: 962: 939: 916: 893: 870: 847: 682:(Sondervermögen) 568:United Kingdom: 525:The West German 484:railway service 272:occupied Germany 235: 227: 165: 163: 158: 147: 145: 140: 106: 99: 95: 89: 82: 78: 75: 69: 64:this article by 55:inline citations 34: 33: 26: 1216: 1215: 1211: 1210: 1209: 1207: 1206: 1205: 1156: 1155: 1154: 1149: 1100:Alsace-Lorraine 1086: 1055: 1029: 1021: 1019: 970: 965: 959: 936: 913: 890: 867: 844: 823: 796: 778: 724: 674: 617: 561:United States: 481: 460:war reparations 443: 441:Electrification 403:command economy 399: 336:, close to the 315: 282:. 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In 280:World War II 269: 261:East Germany 252: 249: 245: 243: 223:East Germany 207:East Germany 191:Headquarters 173:Merged with 80: 71: 60:Please help 52: 1120:Mecklenburg 784:(1991–1992) 766:(1991–1992) 760:(1990–1991) 754:(1989–1990) 748:(1970–1989) 742:(1950–1970) 736:(1949–1950) 730:(1946–1949) 633:Berlin Wall 498:Bahnpolizei 490:West Berlin 338:Berlin Wall 330:East Berlin 234:(1990–1994) 226:(1949–1990) 215:Area served 201:East Berlin 124:Predecessor 66:introducing 1160:Categories 1130:Palatinate 843:3765472468 821:References 782:Heinz Dürr 764:Heinz Dürr 758:Hans Klemm 746:Otto Arndt 589:Marienborn 538:(known as 419:Copenhagen 369:Greifswald 332:at No. 33 162:1994-01-01 144:1949-10-07 1125:Oldenburg 815:Interflug 705:Bundestag 435:Bucharest 423:Vindobona 377:Magdeburg 334:Voßstraße 270:In 1949, 196:Voßstraße 181:Successor 74:June 2020 794:See also 666:Ringbahn 639:Ringbahn 575:France: 494:Cold War 431:Carlsbad 409:(DB) in 387:Catering 381:Schwerin 257:railways 114:Industry 1135:Prussia 1110:Bavaria 684:of the 585:Wannsee 551:Russian 549:(later 540:Berlin 519:Polizei 473:lignite 391:Mitropa 361:Dresden 357:Cottbus 259:in the 231:Germany 160: ( 152:Defunct 142: ( 134:Founded 62:improve 1140:Saxony 955:  932:  909:  886:  863:  840:  629:S-Bahn 555:Moscow 547:Soviet 514:France 512:, and 427:Vienna 415:Berlin 379:, and 365:Erfurt 353:Berlin 302:(DB). 276:Allied 1115:Hesse 1105:Baden 947:[ 924:[ 901:[ 878:[ 855:[ 832:[ 577:Tegel 572:; and 565:West; 504:(the 373:Halle 47:, or 953:ISBN 930:ISBN 907:ISBN 884:ISBN 861:ISBN 838:ISBN 587:and 421:), " 244:The 170:Fate 714:or 659:BVG 642:). 458:as 437:). 248:or 194:33 1162:: 716:AG 508:, 417:– 393:. 383:. 375:, 371:, 367:, 363:, 359:, 355:, 344:. 309:. 250:DR 204:, 198:, 51:, 43:, 1014:e 1007:t 1000:v 961:. 938:. 915:. 892:. 869:. 846:. 579:. 164:) 146:) 87:) 81:( 76:) 72:( 58:. 23:.

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Deutsche Reichsbahn
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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
Deutsche Bahn

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