Third Reich ‘Reichsbahn’ railroad eagle by Rheinmetall Borsig on wooden plaque from US army to the French Railway 1945

Description

Genuine and well preserved alloy made Reichsbahn locomotive/wagon eagle. Shows sharp details and has a very nice patina on the front. The back still has its smooth aluminum look and shows three filed down studs from ripping it of a train wagon. It is maker marked by Rheinmetall Borsig, which is a less encountered manufacturer for these beautiful eagles (This company still exists today!). Furthermore it is also marked on the reverse with GAL-Mg-Si. Height: 33.5 cm, Width: 60 cm. The eagle is mounted on a period presentation plaque (72cm x 43cm), something that was often done within the United States army (see print screen front the railroad book). The eagle was captured in Trier (Germany) in 1945 and given as a present to the French Railway (Sociéte Nationale Des Chemins de Fer Francçais) by the US Army Transportation Corps from Major General Frank S. Ross, Chief of Transportation, ETOUSA (His signed portrait photo is also included!). accompanied with this presentation plaque is a French made brass plate, mounted on wood having the text: Trophée offert a la S.N.C.F. par l’armée Américaine en hommage aux cheminots Français (Trophy offered to the S.N.C.F. (French Railway) by the American army in tribute to French railway workers). Rarely encounter railroad eagle – with souvenir/presentation plaque, a must have as centerpiece for any WW2 collection!