Passenger transport by the Reichspost vehicles during the interwar period, as exemplified by the Eastern Provinces
Passenger transport by the Reichspost vehicles during the interwar period, as exemplified by the Eastern Provinces

Summary/Abstract: Passenger transport by the Reichspost vehicles during the interwar period, as exemplified by the Eastern Provinces. The aim of the article is to present the way in which the Reichspost gained a dominant position in regular passenger transport outside cities. It is done by analysing archival sources, statistics, reports of companies and institutions, as well as the subject literature. After World War I, military vehicles were adapted for civil use. In 1919 automobile companies called KVGs (Kraftverkehrsgesellschaft) were created, operating in provinces and lands of the Reich. KVGs were also created in Prussian provinces of Eastern Prussia, Pomerania, Brandenburg and Silesia. They were owned by the Reich as well as local governments. For the German Post (Deutsche Reichspost – DRP) passenger transport connected with postal shipments was an important source of income. For this reason the DRP was interested in keeping the passenger transport services for itself. In its dispute with the KVGs the DRP presented itself as an institution opposing the decentralization tendencies within the Reich. Because of poor financial results KVG Marken and Schlesien were liquidated at the end of the 1920s. State legislation gave the DRP a privileged position since it did not have to obtain permission to create passenger routes. A matter of significance was to regulate the relationship with the Deutsche Reichsbahn (RB). The arrangements with the Railway in the second half of the 1930s gave the passenger vehicle transport to the DRP, while the RB maintained the vehicle transport of cargo with the exception of postal shipments. The DRP thus gained the dominant position in regular passenger transport outside cities. It was shown that the DRP achieved this position thanks to its agreement with the DR and the regulatory actions of the state.

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