The shoulder boards of the Deutsche Reichsbahn for officials of the middle service represent an important aspect of the uniform development of German transportation during the National Socialist era. The Deutsche Reichsbahn was founded in 1920 from the various state railways of the German Reich and developed into the largest state railway company in Europe.

After the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, the Reichsbahn was increasingly integrated into the NS state system. The uniforming and rank designation of Reichsbahn officials followed military principles, although the Reichsbahn formally remained a civilian institution. The rank stars on the shoulder boards served to identify the service position within the hierarchical structure of the Reichsbahn.

The middle service (mittlerer Dienst) comprised officials positioned between the lower and upper service levels. This included positions such as train conductors, locomotive engineers, station supervisors, and other functionaries who were indispensable for the smooth operation of railway services. The shoulder boards of the middle service differed in color, shape, and number of rank stars from those of other service grades.

The shoulder boards were typically made of cloth and featured the characteristic form designed for sewing into the uniform. The base color of the shoulder boards varied depending on the department and function. The rank stars, often made of metal or silver-colored material, were sewn or embroidered on and indicated the precise service position.

The Reichsbahn uniform regulations were revised several times, particularly in 1935, 1937, and 1942. These adjustments reflected the increasing militarization of the Reichsbahn, which played a central role during World War II in Wehrmacht logistics, but also in deportations. The Reichsbahn transported troops and war materials, but also millions of people to concentration and extermination camps.

The removal of rank stars from shoulder boards was widespread after the war's end. This occurred for various reasons: officials wanted to conceal their identity, equipment items were to be used for other purposes, or collectors removed the stars for separate storage. The present pair with removed rank stars is typical of such subsequent alterations.

After 1945, the Deutsche Reichsbahn continued differently in the two German states. In the GDR, it retained the name Deutsche Reichsbahn until reunification in 1994, while in West Germany the Deutsche Bundesbahn was founded. Uniform traditions continued but were purged of National Socialist symbols.

For collectors and historians, Reichsbahn shoulder boards are important study materials for understanding the organization and hierarchy of German transportation. They document the everyday history of an institution that was central to both civilian traffic and the warfare and crimes of the NS regime.