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Quite a few Third Reich collectors are familiar with German World War II non-transferable high security metal-framed identity documents or Rahmenausweis. These were issued to workers at facilities that conducted research about or manufactured weapons, aircraft, vehicles, strategic products, war materiel or components. Two examples are shown for reference (right).

What many people don’t realize is that in the days just before the National Socialists were elected to power, the patent holder and manufacturer of these hard to alter metal-rimmed Rahmenausweis passes, VERMUS A.G. KÖLN, also sold them to the Cologne Street Railway as secure identity documents for users who purchased a long-term pass on the Städt. Bahnen Köln.

The metal ID we offer here was purchased by and issued to pretty Hildegard Kühn. It is number 04 450 and was valid for public transportation use in section 412, 17 and 15 in Cologne. Just like a Nazi era defense plant ID, it is marked (below the ID photo) with D.R.P. for Deutsches Reich Patent or Patented in Germany

An obscure piece of history connected with all Rahmenausweis or high-security identification used in Germany during the Third Reich. In a typically German fashion the city railway did not want anybody but the pass holder boarding their trains or trolleys - nobody rides for free!