1938 Nazi German Third Reich Reichsbahn Special Train Papers Documents Breslau Sports Festival & Exhibition

Interesting original 1938 German railway and sports-event ephemera grouping relating to the Deutsches Turn- und Sportfest Breslau 1938 and the 1. Deutsche Sportausstellung held in Breslau.

The grouping consists of two related period pieces:

1. Sonderzug zum Deutschen Turn- und Sportfest Breslau 1938
Special-train information sheet for participants traveling from Bautzen to Breslau Freiburger Bahnhof. It gives the outbound special train as Tu 44 on July 27/28 and the return train as Tu 1044 on August 2.

Stops and times are printed for:
Bautzen – Löbau (Sachs.) – Görlitz – Hirschberg (Rsgb) Hbf – Waldenburg-Dittersbach – Königszelt – Breslau Freiburger Bahnhof.

The lower portion contains a particularly nice printed map of the Breslau-Freiburger Bahnhof area, showing the designated gathering point “Sammelplatz C = Cäsar” and locations A–D. Streets, railway platforms and surrounding landmarks are shown.

The reverse carries extensive instructions headed:

“Beachte bei Benutzung des Sonderzuges”
“Observe the following when using the special train.”

These instructions cover boarding, conduct during the journey, arrival procedures and the return trip. It is signed in print at the bottom:

Deutsche Reichsbahn – Reichsbahndirektion Breslau

2. 1. Deutsche Sportausstellung Breslau 1938 handbill
Period promotional handbill advertising the 1st German Sports Exhibition, held in Breslau from 20 July through 7 August 1938 in the Poelzig-Bau at the Jahrhunderthalle.

It also promotes:

Sportfilm-Vorführungen – sports-film screenings
and the
Sportfoto-Wettbewerb – sports-photography competition

in the Staatenhalle beside the Poelzig building.

Historical Interest

The Deutsches Turn- und Sportfest Breslau 1938 was a major Third Reich Era German gymnastics and sporting gathering, and this pair provides an unusual look at the practical transportation and visitor arrangements surrounding the event.

The special-train sheet is especially interesting because it combines an actual Deutsche Reichsbahn timetable, participant instructions and a detailed station-area assembly map. The accompanying exhibition handbill connects the transportation material directly with the wider sporting exhibitions and activities taking place in Breslau.

Breslau is present-day Wrocław, Poland, adding additional regional and transportation-history interest to the grouping.

Translation of Exhibition Handbill

“See the 1st German Sports Exhibition in Breslau 1938! From July 20 to August 7 in the Poelzig Building at the Jahrhunderthalle.

Visit the sports-film screenings and the exhibition for the sports-photography competition in the Staatenhalle next to the Poelzig Building.”

Condition

Both pieces show genuine period handling and storage wear. The special-train sheet has original folds, creasing, minor edge wear, small tears and age toning. The exhibition handbill has a central horizontal fold, light edge/corner wear and age toning. Printing remains strong and easily readable on both pieces.

Please see all photographs for exact condition and contents.

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