Oberführer
Oberführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party dating back to 1921. Translated as "senior leader", an Oberführer was typically a Nazi Party member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region.[1] From 1921 to 1925, the phrase Oberführer was used as a title in the Sturmabteilung (SA), but became an actual SA rank after 1926.
Oberführer was also a rank of the Schutzstaffel (SS, at that time a branch of the SA), established in 1925 as Gauführer, a rank for SS officers in charge of SS personnel in the several Gaue throughout Germany; in 1928 the rank was renamed Oberführer, and used of the commanders of the three regional SS-Oberführerbereiche. In 1930, the SS was reorganized into SS-Gruppen and Brigaden, at which time Oberführer became subordinate to the higher rank of Brigadeführer. By 1932, Oberführer was an established rank of the SA, SS and NSKK.[1][2] It was considered at that time to be the first general officer rank, approximately the equivalent to a brigadier general.[citation needed]
Oberführer wore two oak leaves on the uniform collar rank patch, along with the shoulder boards and lapels of a general officer.[3] In 1938, the status of SS-Oberführer began to change with the rise of the SS-Verfügungstruppe which would later become the Waffen-SS. Since Brigadeführer was rated equal to a Generalmajor, and Standartenführer to an Oberst, Oberführer had no military equivalent and quickly became regarded as a senior colonel rank.[4] This distinction continues in historical circles with most texts referring to Oberführer as a senior colonel rank[4][5] while some others state it has a military equivalent to a British Army brigadier.[6]
Notable recipients
Emil Maurice, a founding member of the SS in 1925, held this rank. Also, Julian Scherner, immortalized in the film Schindler's List as the SS and Police Leader of Kraków[citation needed] and Ferdinand Porsche.[7]
Insignia
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SS-Medical corps -
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| Junior Rank Standartenführer |
SS rank and SA rank Oberführer |
Senior Rank Brigadeführer |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b McNab (II) 2009, p. 15.
- ^ McNab 2009, pp. 29, 30.
- ^ Flaherty 2004, p. 148.
- ^ a b Yerger 1997, p. 235.
- ^ Miller 2006, p. 521.
- ^ McNab 2009, p. 186.
- ^ von Preradovich, Nicolas (2004). Die Schutzstaffel der NSDAP: eine Dokumentation (in German). Druffel & Vowinckel-Verlag.
Bibliography
- Flaherty, T. H. (2004) [1988]. The Third Reich: The SS. Time-Life Books, Inc. ISBN 1 84447 073 3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - McNab (II), Chris (2009). The Third Reich. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-51-8.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Miller, Michael (2006). Leaders of the SS and German Police, Vol. 1. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 9-32970-037-3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Yerger, Mark C. (1997). Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units and Leaders of the General SS. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-0145-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)