Oberführer
Officer's rank in the Schutzstaffel (SS) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Oberführer (short: Oberf, [ˈoːbɐ.fyːʀɐ], lit. 'senior leader') was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) dating back to 1921. An Oberführer was typically an NSDAP 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 | |
---|---|
Country | Nazi Germany |
Service branch | Schutzstaffel Sturmabteilung National Socialist Motor Corps National Socialist Flyers Corps |
Abbreviation | Oberf |
NATO rank code | OF-5 |
Formation | 1921 |
Abolished | 1945 |
Next higher rank | Brigadeführer |
Next lower rank | Standartenführer |
Equivalent ranks | Oberst |
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]
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 (SS-VT), 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 was a military equivalent to a British Army brigadier.[6]