Oberführer

Joachim Rumohr, as an SS-Oberführer of the Waffen-SS

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.

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 and Ferdinand Porsche.[7]

Insignia

Junior Rank
Standartenführer		 SS rank and SA rank
Oberführer		 Senior Rank
Brigadeführer

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 McNab (II) 2009, p. 15.
  2. ↑ McNab 2009, pp. 29, 30.
  3. ↑ Flaherty 2004, p. 148.
  4. 1 2 Yerger 1997, p. 235.
  5. ↑ Miller 2006, p. 521.
  6. ↑ McNab 2009, p. 186.
  7. ↑ 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. 
  • McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5. 
  • McNab (II), Chris (2009). The Third Reich. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-51-8. 
  • Miller, Michael (2006). Leaders of the SS and German Police, Vol. 1. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 9-32970-037-3. 
  • Yerger, Mark C. (1997). Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units and Leaders of the General SS. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-0145-4. 
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