Reichsleiter

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Reichsleiter
Flag 1939–1945
Pre and post 1939 insignia
Armband
Country Nazi Germany
Service branch Nazi Party
AbbreviationRL
RankParamilitary rank
Formation2 June 1933
Abolished8 May 1945
Next higher rankFührer
Next lower rankGauleiter

Reichsleiter (transl. national leader or Reich leader) was the second-highest political rank in the Nazi Party (NSDAP), subordinate only to the office of Führer. Reichsleiter also functioned as a paramilitary rank within the NSDAP and was the highest rank attainable in any Nazi organisation.[1]

Each Reichsleiter reported directly to the Führer, Adolf Hitler. Men of the rank Reichsleiter collectively 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: von Epp, Frick, Bormann, Lutze, Hierl and Huhnlein.[3]

List of Reichsleiters

This is the list of men of the rank of Reichsleiter in the Nazi Party set forth in the National Socialist Yearbook:[4]

References