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Trains - Germany (up to 1939): Books - History

Books on the history and the rolling stock of railways in Germany up to 1939, including companies in Prussia, Saxony and Bavaria.

Reich Rails: Royal Prussia, Imperial Germany And The First World War 1825-1918

A comprehensive study of Prussian/German railways leading up to the war. Men, rails, lines, engineers, cars and stations all played a crucial part in Germany's Wars of Unification during 1864-1871, the interwar years and the final catastrophe that toppled many crowns, thrones and states, all told from a railroad perspective.

Railroad sagas are explored as railways aligned both for and against the Second Reich: Berlin-Baghdad, Trans-Siberian, Hejaz, African, Italian, American and more.
Also detailed are notable individual historic trains such as of those of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicholas II, hospital conveyances, differing gauges, railroad guns, armoured trains, Lenin's infamous 'sealed train' through Germany to Russia and more.

Also described are the famous men who made 'training' a successful wartime tool: banker Bleichroder, soldier von Moltke, raiders Lawrence of Arabia, Bulow and Hindenburg, and how Marshal Foch's railroad dining car became the focal point of the First World War's final ending.

From the very first German passenger service to the Russian Civil War, this is epic railroading as a military force. Written and researched by a leading military historian. Superbly illustrated with many rare and unpublished pictures.

Information

Author:Blaine Taylor
Details:224 pages, 23 x 15.5 x 1.5 cm / 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.59 in, paperback
Illustrations:32 b&w photos
Publisher:Fonthill Media (GB, 2016)
ISBN:9781781554241
Reich Rails: Royal Prussia, Imperial Germany And The First World War 1825-1918

Reich Rails: Royal Prussia, Imperial Germany And The First World War 1825-1918

Language: English

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Die große Geschichte der Eisenbahn in Deutschland 1835 bis heute (Aktualisierte Neuausgabe)

On December 7, 1835, the "Adler" rolled from Nuremberg to Fürth: that was the beginning of the German railway. Since the 1960s, Andreas Knipping has been photographing railways, collecting historical railway photos and writing books on railway history. Who, if not him, should portray the great history of the railway in Germany!

He captivatingly describes the development from the technical marvel and revolutionary economic factor of yesteryear to today's transport system. Thoughtful in places, often surprising, always fascinating!

Magnificent images in large format, now in an updated new edition.

Information

Author:Andreas Knipping
Details:192 pages, 30 x 23.5 x 2.5 cm / 11.8 x 9.25 x 0.98 in, hardback
Illustrations:350 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:GeraMond Verlag (D, 2022)
ISBN:9783964535962
Die große Geschichte der Eisenbahn in Deutschland 1835 bis heute (Aktualisierte Neuausgabe)

Die große Geschichte der Eisenbahn in Deutschland 1835 bis heute (Aktualisierte Neuausgabe)

Language: German

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Die Deutsche Eisenbahn - Die Entwicklung des deutschen Schienenverkehrs von 1835 bis heute

The history of the railway began in England in 1712 with the invention of the steam engine, and the first steam locomotive rolled along rails as early as 1804. Since then, rail transport has developed at a rapid pace, especially in Germany.

This richly illustrated volume by Carl Asmus takes the reader through one of the most multifaceted eras of German and European engineering.
Easy-to-understand texts, a wealth of original colour and black-and-white photos as well as route maps, sectional graphics and contemporary illustrations make the book a reference work on German railway history for all railway enthusiasts.

Information

Author:Carl Asmus
Details:304 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 2.3 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.91 in, hardback
Illustrations:300 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Transpress (D, 2022)
ISBN:9783613716582
Die Deutsche Eisenbahn - Die Entwicklung des deutschen Schienenverkehrs von 1835 bis heute

Die Deutsche Eisenbahn - Die Entwicklung des deutschen Schienenverkehrs von 1835 bis heute

Language: German

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175 Jahre Deutsche Eisenbahn: Vom Adler 1935 zum ICE heute

Since the first journey from Nuremberg to Fürth in 1835, the railway has rapidly developed into one of the most important means of transport. Goods and people are transported on a scale and at a speed that was previously unimaginable.
The invention of the railway ushered in a new era. Routes, tunnels, bridges and viaducts changed the landscape, and railway stations changed the cityscape.

From the contents:
- Opening of the Ludwig Railway Nuremberg-Fürth on December 7, 1835 at 9 a.m.
- The period up to the founding of the German Empire - 38 states - 88 railways
- From the upswing to the war 1914 to 1918 - Railways in the German Empire
- From the Weimar Republic to 1933 - The German Reichsbahn
- Two German states - Two German railways
- German Reichsbahn and German Bundesbahn
- DB Deutsche Bahn AG
- Museum railways and railway museums
- Personal and subject index

Information

Author:Eberhard Urban
Details:136 pages, 28 x 21 cm / 11 x 8.25 in, hardback
Illustrations:290 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Verlag Podszun (D, 2010)
ISBN:9783861335566
175 Jahre Deutsche Eisenbahn: Vom Adler 1935 zum ICE heute

175 Jahre Deutsche Eisenbahn: Vom Adler 1935 zum ICE heute

Language: German

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Bewegte Jahrzehnte - Eisenbahngeschichte 1900 bis 1960 in Fotos aus dem Ullstein-Bildarchiv

Rare and outstanding photographic material: Image treasures from the most famous German photo archive. Railway history from the perspective of press photographers - Ullstein Bild advertises itself with the words: Passion for photography.

This illustrated book combines a passion for photography with a passion for the railway and shows the eventful years of railways from 1900 to 1960 in extraordinary motifs. Rare image material from the treasures of the image archive knows how to fascinate. Since these are often photos taken by press photographers, you experience the railway from a new perspective. Contemporary history included!

Information

Author:Martin Weltner
Details:192 pages, 29 x 27 cm / 11.4 x 10.6 in, hardback
Illustrations:150 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:GeraMond Verlag (D, 2019)
ISBN:9783956130830
Bewegte Jahrzehnte - Eisenbahngeschichte 1900 bis 1960 in Fotos aus dem Ullstein-Bildarchiv

Bewegte Jahrzehnte - Eisenbahngeschichte 1900 bis 1960 in Fotos aus dem Ullstein-Bildarchiv

Language: German

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Eisenbahn-Baukompanien - an der Westfront im Ersten Weltkrieg

In his book "Die Wiederherstellung der Eisenbahnen auf dem westlichen Kriegsschauplatz" (The Restoration of Railways in the Western Theater of War), Wilhelm Kretzschmann dealt extensively with the work of the railway construction companies in World War I.
These specialized pioneer units were used, among other things, to restore the railway lines.

Gabriel Habermann, freelance journalist and photo reporter, is now building on the original volume by Mr. Kretzschmann, which was published in 1922 and is now extremely rare.
The texts have been supplemented by images from the author's extensive archive. An interesting new work on the First World War!

Information

Author:Gabriel Habermann
Details:224 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:300 b&w photos
Publisher:Transpress (D, 2019)
ISBN:9783613715967
Eisenbahn-Baukompanien - an der Westfront im Ersten Weltkrieg

Eisenbahn-Baukompanien - an der Westfront im Ersten Weltkrieg

Language: German

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Kulturgeschichte der Deutschen Reichsbahn

Hardly any other era in German railway history enjoys such a legendary reputation as the Reichsbahn era. It was founded in 1920 as a joint railway administration of the German state railways. In 1924 this administration became the "Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft" before being placed "under the sovereignty of the Reich" again by Hitler in 1937.

Even the end of the Third Reich could not harm it, because the Reichsbahn survived forty years of the GDR and was even able to experience reunification.
In this book, first published in 1994, the times of the Reichsbahn are brought back to life in over 250 illustrations.

Information

Author:Alfred B. Gottwaldt
Details:192 pages, 28 x 23 cm / 11 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:269 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Transpress (D, 2020)
ISBN:9783613714434
Kulturgeschichte der Deutschen Reichsbahn

Kulturgeschichte der Deutschen Reichsbahn

Language: German

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Related titles:

German National Railway in World War II

The German National Railway in World War II

Janusz Piekalkiewicz | English | hardback | 192 p. | 2008

Die Deutsche Reichsbahn im Zweiten Weltkrieg

Die Deutsche Reichsbahn im Zweiten Weltkrieg

Janusz Piekałkiewicz | German | hardback | 192 p. | 2018

Reichsbahn hinter der Ostfront

Reichsbahn hinter der Ostfront

Walter Hollnagel, Udo Kandler | German | hardback | 112 p. | 2014

Heeresfeldbahnen im 2. Weltkrieg - 1939 bis 1945

Heeresfeldbahnen im Zweiten Weltkrieg - 1939 bis 1945

Alfred B. Gottwaldt | German | hardback | 256 p. | 2018

Trümmerbahnen

Trümmerbahnen

Klaus Scherff | German | hardback | 224 p. | 2021

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Last update: 2025-01-13