Description
Product Description: This is likely the best 27″ German Railroad Eagle I have ever had. This is the only German Railroad Eagle I have owned that was still mounted to the original plaque that the US GI made for it. Rail Eagles rarely come up for sale, and usually they are messed with or have holes drilled through the front of them. This example is completely untouched, and displays beautifully on the the US vet custom made wooden plaque. The eagle measures 27″ in width and 14″ in height. The obverse side of the eagle remains uncleaned with a very nice patina having formed over the decades. Hand finishing marks can be clearly seen on the edges of the eagle. The reverse of the eagle is marked with a large “V”, which is presumed to be for a still unknown maker. Eagles found with the mark “V” are only found in the 27″ size. Another mark of “GAL-Mg-SI” can be seen on the reverse as well. This mark indicates the composition of the base metal “Aluminum-Magnesium-Silicon”. The wooden plaque is not something a collector conjured up in the 60‘s or 70‘s. The US vet himself made this and mounted the eagle to it, and then signed it! The threaded studs on the reverse were removed from the back of the eagle, to enable the veteran to mount the eagle to the wooden plaque he specifically made for the eagle. Four holes were hand drilled through the wooden plaque and line up with four drilled and tapped holes on the eagle’s reverse. Three of the four slotted machine screws are still present, which hold the eagle securely to the plaque. The front of the wooden plaque was shaped to fit the eagle with the edges being hand routed. The plaque was stained and lacquered prior to mounting the eagle. When removed from the plaque, the clear defined line where the eagle rested for many years becomes instantly apparent as the lacquer and stain under it are like new. The reverse side of the plaque was dated and signed by the veteran who assembled this piece. It reads: ” Mounted by A.H. Brandt September 29, 1945″. Two galvanized eyelets are fastened to the top of the eagle with a simple galvanized stranded wire running between them for wall mounting. A beautiful and extremely desirable ID’d American GI liberated and mounted German Railroad Eagle War Trophy!
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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