Reichsleiter
Reichsleiter (national leader or Reich leader) was the second highest political rank of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), next only to the office of Führer. Reichsleiter also served as a paramilitary rank in the Nazi Party and was the highest position attainable in any Nazi organisation.[1]
Reichsleiter | |
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Pre and post 1939 insignia | |
Armband | |
Flag 1939-1945 | |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Service branch | Nazi Party |
Abbreviation | RL |
Rank | Paramilitary rank |
Formation | 2 June 1933 |
Abolished | 8 May 1945 |
Next higher rank | Führer |
Next lower rank | Gauleiter |
The Reichsleiter reported directly to Adolf Hitler. The Reichsleiter formed part of the Reichsleitung (Reich leadership) of the NSDAP which was originally located in the "Brown House" in Munich. Each Reichsleiter was in charge of a broad area of responsibility in the party. Hitler originally established the rank of Reichsleiter on 2 June 1933 and appointed 16 individuals to that rank.[2] Subsequently, a further 6 individuals were appointed to the rank between 1933 and 1938.[3]
List of Reichsleiter
This is the list of Reichsleiter of the NSDAP set forth in the National Socialist Yearbook:[4]
- Max Amann, Head of the Party Publishing House, Eher-Verlag.
- Martin Bormann, Chief of the Party Chancellery.
- Philipp Bouhler, Chief of the Chancellery of the Führer of the NSDAP.
- Walter Buch, Chairman of USCHLA, the Supreme Party Court (Oberstes Parteigericht der NSDAP).
- Ricardo Walther Oscar Darré, Chief of the NSDAP Agrarian Office.
- Otto Dietrich, Reich Press Chief of the NSDAP.
- Franz Ritter von Epp, Chief of the NSDAP Office of Colonial Policy (Kolonialpolitischen Amtes)
- Karl Fiehler, Chief of the NSDAP Main Office for Municipal Politics.
- Hans Frank, Chief of the NSDAP Legal Office.
- Wilhelm Frick, Leader of the NSDAP parliamentary bloc in the Reichstag.
- Paul Joseph Goebbels, Reich Propaganda Leader of the NSDAP.
- Wilhelm Grimm, Chairman of the Second Chamber of USCHLA, the Supreme Party Court (Oberstes Parteigericht der NSDAP).
- Rudolf Hess, Deputy Führer.
- Konstantin Hierl, Leader of the Reich Labor Service.
- Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer-SS and Chief of the German Police.
- Adolf Hühnlein, Korpsführer of the NSKK.
- Robert Ley, Reich Organization Leader of the NSDAP and head of the German Labor Front.
- Viktor Lutze, Chief of Staff of the Sturmabteilung (SA) 1934-1943.
- Ernst Röhm, Chief of Staff of the Sturmabteilung (SA) 1931-1934.
- Alfred Rosenberg, Chief of the NSDAP Office of Foreign Affairs.
- Baldur von Schirach, Reich Youth Leader, Reichsjugendführer.
- Franz Xaver Schwarz, Reich Treasurer (Reichsschatzmeister) of the NSDAP.
References
- "The Organization of the Nazi Party & State". nizkor.org. The Nizkor Project. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- Dietrich Orlow: The Nazi Party 1919-1945: A Complete History, Enigma Books, New York, 2010, p. 263. ISBN 978-1-929631-57-5.
- https://www.axishistory.com/books/182-germany-political-organizations/nsdap/4943-reichsleiters-of-the-nsdap, Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- "The Nazi Party Leadership Corps". nizkor.org. The Nizkor Project. Retrieved 15 April 2016.