The Reichsleiters

Reichsleiters of the N.S.D.A.P. with their Nazi Party positions and functions. The list does not include their govermental posts and their many secondary positions. Reichsleiters were the highest rank in the party and were responsible directly to Hitler. To the best of my knowledge, the list is complete.

Max Amann: Reichsleiter for the press.

Martin Bormann: Leader of the Party Chancellery.

Philip Bouhler: Chief of the Chancellery of the Fuhrer and President of Official Party publications and Certifications.

Walter Buch: Chief Justice of the N.S.D.A.P.

Wilhelm Grimm: President of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Party Court.

Walter Darre: Leader of the National Office of Agricultural Politics.

Otto Dietrich: National Press chief.

Carl Fiehler: Leader of the Comunal Political Office.

Ritter von Epp: Leader of the Colonial Political Office.

Hans Frank: Leader of National Justice.

Wilhelm Frick: Leader of the Reichstag.

Joseph Goebbels: Reich Propaganda leader of the N.S,D.A.P.

Constantine Hierl: National Labor leader.

Heinrich Himmler: Reichsfuhrer-SS

Adolf Huhnlein: Korpfuhrer of N.S.K.K.

Erwin Kraus: Korpsfuhrer of N.S.K.K.

Robert Ley: Leader of German Labor Front and Reichs Organization Leader.

Victor Lutze: Stabschef of the S.A.

Wilhelm Schepmann: Stabschef of the S.A.

Alfred Rosenberg: Leader of the Foreign Political Office and Deputy to the Fuhrer for the supervision of the joint Spiritual and World Philosophical Schooling and training of the N.S.D.A.P.

Buldar von Schirach: Reichsleiter of Youth Education.

Franz Xavier Schwarz: Treasurer of the N.S.D.A.P.

Bob Treend, "The Reichleiters", Der Gauleiter, 1977

The German Order

In 1942 the Fuehrer Hitler discusses a matter that had evidently been on his mind for some time: the creation of a decoration "adequately rewarding cases of exceptional merit and unique exploits." This remark, recorded in the English translation of Hitler's table talk (Hitler'S Secret Conversations, published by Farrar, Strauss, & Young, Inc. in 1953, p. 394) is continued by a brief eulogy to Fritz Todt, after which the Fuehrer says:

"The order which I created on the death of Minister Todt, and which, posthumously, he is the first recipient, is designed to reward the most outstanding services that a man can render to the Reich. To avoid too wide a distribution, I have decided that recipients shall be grouped into a Chapter......which shall have a Senate, with powers to decide admissions and exclusions and limitation of the numbers of Members to the Chapter."

In all probability Hitler was discussing his proposed German Order, which he did indeed create in 1942 to reward extraordinary services to the Nazi Party. It was one of the rarest of all Nazi decorations, and the highest decoration the Third Reich could bestow.Only a Party member could recieve it.

The designer of the German Order is believed to be Adolf Hitler himself, although others such as Benno von Arent and Richard Klein may also have contributed. Since neither of the latter artists were noted for the delicacy of their designs, my guess is that this Order was indeed designed by Hitler...the better examples of his little waters show, for example, a delicate workmanship in drawing and painting. Nevertheless, the Fuehrer did issue an order though the Party Chancellory Designing Department to manufacture the decoration.

The German Order consists of a black enammelled cross with the smaller version of the Golden Partei-Ehrenzeichen, enamelled in the national colors, in its center. The Hoheitsadler are in gold, are of the drop-winged military type, except for a spread-winged National eagle which joins the decoration to the cravat. The reverse of the cross bears the Fuehrer's signature, in Germanic script, on a black enamell background.

The German Order was nicknamed "Totenorden" (death-medal) because the first six of its ten recipients were awarded it posthumously.It is interesting to note that none of the most prominent Nazi leaders, such as' Goering or Goebbles, received this decoration from their Fuehrer: and that the last three recipients received it shortly brfore Hitler's death on April 30, 1945.

The recipients were:

1. DR. FRITZ TODT', builder highways, killed in a plane '1942

2. REINHARDT HEYDRICH, Protector of BohemiaMoravia, assassinated by Czech partizans June 9, 1942

3. HUHNLEIN, leader of the NSKK, died June 22, 1942

4. VIKTOR LutZE, S.A. Chief of Staff, killed in an auto crash, May 8, 1943

5. JOSEF BURCKEL, Gauleiter, suicide, Oct.3, 1944

6. RUDOLF SCHMUNIN', General of the Infantry, died of wounds received on July 20, 1944 and Oct. 7, 1944

7. KONSTANTIN HIERL, Reichsarbeitsfuehrer on his 70th birthday, Feb. 24, 1945

8. KARL HANKE, Gauleiter of Silesia, Apr. 12 1945

9. KARL HOLZ, Gauleiter of Franconia, Apr. 19, 1945

10. ARTHUR AXMANN, Reichjungenfuehrer, Apr. 25, 1945

I have been told that as many as 50 Orders were manufactured for everyone actually awarded, and that the extras were sold secretly to museums and possibly to collectors (if this is true, I wonder why more of these Orders haven't appeared long before this.) I also doubt very much if my Order is one of those. Post-war Austrian re-strikes (from the original dies); at the time I acquired it I had never heard any tack among collectors or dealers about either phonies or re-strikes. I feel quite sure that my piece is indeed a product of the Third Reich at the time of its existance.

But probably my piece is an "extra"----its sword is noticably bent. Other than that, the workmanship is fine throughout. There are no markings on the reverse, and no seamlines along the edges as if two parts were soddered together. The reverse, is of fine quality on both of my pieces. But since I have never seen another German Order, either a genuine one or a re-strike, I have nothing to compare my pieces with. The cross is about 2 inches in diameter.

Karen Kuykendall: "The German Order","Der Haken Kreuz", c. 1969

Duane Pfister

Merry Christmas from germanmilitariacollectibles.com

Luftwaffe NCO Preparatory School

In spite of intensive recruitment for volunteers and the passing on of volunteers from the Flieger-HJ who ensured the continuation of the Unteroffizier-Korps der Luftwaffe (Airforce NCO Corps), officials of the State Ministry of Air Traffic (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) in Berlin continued to watch the development of the Heeres-Unteroffizier-Vorschulen (Army NCO Preparatory Schools, further referred to as HUVS) which had been instituted on April 1, 1940. Upon noting the initial test results obtained from these schools, it was decided that Unteroffizier- Vorschulen fur die Luftwaffe (Airforce NCO Preparatory Schools, further referred to as LUVS) should be instituted and based on the army pattern. The first LUVS opened its doors on May I, 1941 and was based upon the principles and standards of the HUVS. The first company was stationed at the city of Annaberg near the border of Czechoslovakia.

At the Inspektion fur Erziehung und Ausbildung der Luftwaffe (Inspection of Airforce Education and Training) which was led by Generalmajor Tschoeltsch, a special office was instituted and was independent in its thinking. In August 1941 the LUVS was expanded: the 1st company was enlarged, and the new 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies were stationed at Castle Hubertusburg at Wermsdorf near Leipzig under the command of Oberst Drauts.

The LUVS consisted of a staff (see below for special distinctive insignia) and 200 students. A company consisted of four platoons, two of which formed a so-called "inspection." As previously indicated, the LUVS was similar in organization to the HUVS, but with special training based on Luftwaffe needs. The goal was to prepare these students for any of the secondary Unteroffizierschulen with specific training in their later profession as flight personnel, signals, antiaircraft artillery, parachutist or ground personnel. Educators of general education were called Obelfachschullehrer. Additional technical training, such as driving of small vehicles, was not taught at the LUVS.

On November 22, 1941 the LUVS was renamed Unteroffizierschulen der Luftwaffe (Airforce NCO Schools, further referred to as LUS) in spite of the fact that the youngsters had not reached the minimum age for Armed Forces service. The commands of the schools also changed their names to Kommando der Unteroffizierschulen der Luftwaffe.l Since 1942 no new students were accepted at the airforce institution, or those of the army and navy. Annaberg/ Wermsdorf remained the only school of this type until 1942. But on April 1, 1942 new schools were instituted: LUS 2 at Stetten (Stuttgart); LUS 3 at the castle at Werneck (between the cities of Wtirzburg and Schweinfurt) and LUS 4 at Neu-Sandez in the Generalgouvernement (the Polish area). Volunteers who joined these institutions had to be at least 17 years of age.

Between January and March 1944 a number of students were transferred into the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), but returned to Annaberg/Wermsdorf on April 1, 1944. This school was now officially designated at LUS 1 and organized just as was LUS 2, 3 and 4. The boys were "appointed" as soldiers with the rank of Airforce NCO, but the final goal of the schools was never achieved. The LUV students were put into action in late 1944 on the battlefield near Aachen (Htirtgenwald) where they suffered heavy losses. Only a few students survived the war.

Uniforms and Insignia

The uniforms worn were as those of the German Luftwaffe, but in a lighter blue. A grey-blue shirt and black tie were worn with the Waffenrock and Fliegerbluse. The collar was worn open. The collar patches were of an oblong style as used at the Lufwaffenmusiksclwle at Sondershausen, but in yellow and without the metal gulls as normally worn by the Luftwaffe. On the lower portion of the patch the so-called Jahrgangsabzeichen were worn, consisting of a small lace: first year one white lace; second year two; and third year three. A period photo shows two laces and a pip. The purpose of this is not known but is believed to be for Zugfiihrer. Initially, the piped shoulder straps had no number designation, but later both shoulder straps carried an Arabic number" I" embroidered in yellow. Collar patches and shoulder straps were also worn on the greatcoat.

Other basic uniform parts and insignia consisted of: a piped visored cap with regular Luftwaffe national eagle emblem and winged wreath/cockade; a field cap with regular cloth cockade and eagle emblem. They were also supplied with long trousers and probably with standard Luftwaffe equipment such as steel helmets and belts with the Luftwaffe buckle. The regular Drillich uniform was also worn. Note: a Luftwaffe eagle emblem was worn above the right breast pocket, but a cuffband, as worn by the HUVS, Heeres- and Luftwaffenmusikschule, was not instituted for the LUVS.

There was a uniform color difference for UVS 1 and 2 in contrast with UVS 3 and 4. The color for UVS 1 and 2 were of a lighter blue-grey whereas the color for UVS 3 and 4 was the regular Luftwaffe uniform color.

From August 12, 1942 the students at LUS 1, 2, 3 and 4 were authorized the wear of a grey-blue round patch with the letters "US" in matte-grey emboidery. This patch was to be worn on the lower right sleeve of the Waffenrock, approximately 1.0cm above the cuff sleeve.When the Fliegerbluse was worn it was in the same position. Students were authorized to wear this patch until they were officially appointed as NCOs. Note that the wear of this patch has not been observed in any of the available photographs.

Shooting awards (Schiessauszeichnungen), in the style of smaller lanyards worn at the HUVS, were not introduced at the LUVS, neither were the distinctive insignia (Dienststellungsabzeichen) for functions as Stuben- or Klasseniilteste (room and class students with seniority). The proper manner of addressing the students was Unteroffiziervorschiiler. It is not known why the term Jungflieger was not used, although the army used Jungschiitze and the navy used Jungmatrose. Once again, it appears that the LUS was independent in their own matters.

Officers, NCOs and enlisted ranks (known as Stammpersonal) who were assigned to an LUVS were ordered to the wear the uniform of their "old" branch. On June 30, 1941 they were authorized to wear the "UVS" cypher on their shoulder straps: for officers-gold metal; NCOs who were authorized to wear a Portepeewhite metal; all others, including NCOs who were not authorized to wear a Portepee-white embroidery. All were on shoulder straps piped with their "old" branch of color. Shoulder straps and boards could be obtained through outlets of the Kommando der Unteroffizierschulen und Unteroffiziervorschulen del' Luftwaffe at their particular Luftgaukommando. When the LUVS was renamed, a November 22, 1941 order was published which stated that the letters "UVS" were to be replaced by "US."

Research by George A. Petersen Translated by Mathieu de Wolf / Mentored by Wilhelm PBR. Saris;UNTEROFFIZIER-VOLSCHULEN DER LUFTWAFFE, The Military Advisor, Fall 2003

Bender-Publishing.com

The Braunschweig Badge

One of the more "common" badges of the political genre of the Third Reich is the SA TREFFEN BADGE for Braunschweig. Yet it was one of the most honored... a "Party Decoration" ranked right up there with the Blood Order and the Coburg Badge. But whereas the Coburg Badge had only 400 issued, there were over 100,000 Braunschweig badges awarded. Where did they all go?

They are not where you think they are! More on that statement later.

What happened in Braunschweig to make Hitler value the date so much? It was this: On October 18,1931, the SA in public gave its unqualified support to Hitler, and despite earlier revolts by certain elements in the previous months, never again wavered from that loyalty (the Rohm bloody weekend notwithstanding).

For a time in 1930, it looked highly unlikely that there would be an SA rally in Braunschweig to pay homage to Hitler.

With industrialists money he had acquired in 1929, Hitler re-equipped and enlarged his SA. He bought the famous Brown House in Munich on the Briennerstrasse, which he had redesigned as Party Headquarters. Inside it was stunningly impressive, at least by Nazi standards. The conference room was garish red leather and the black and red entrance

The hall was highlighted with swastikas. Needless to say, the SA man from the country who stumbled into "his" Party Headquarters came away very impressed! But also possibly very depressed, because many of the SA were in dire straits.

While Hitler was decorating the Brown House, the situation was changing rapidly. On March 27, 1930 the Muller coalition resigned and Henrich Bruning, head of the Catholic Centre Party, succeeded him and promised to cure the economic problems of inflation and unemployment, but the Nazis and Communists voted against it in the Reichstag. When his partners refused to vote with him, he dissolved the Reichstag and called for new elections for September 14th.

Ernst Rohm, Hitler's long-time ally, was in Bolivia assisting that country in training its army. The SA, back in Germany, was exhausted from non-stop campaigning and "getting nowhere fast", to use a current descriptive phrase. The SA men were unpaid, hungry, many beginning to literally starve. So the districts under Oberster SA-Fuhrer Ost, Walther Stennes, went on strike. Hitler raced from Munich to Berlin, because if the revolt continued, or spread, all would be lost in the September elections. Hitler went from group to group, begging, pleading, even sobbing... men were angry, frustrated and, hard to believe today, one SA-Fuhrer actually grabbed Hitler and shook him!

But Hitler quieted the men. He determined Rohm was the one man who could corral the uneasy SA and decided to call him back.

In the meantime, he quietly took a step (totally unnoticed by the outside world) which assured his ultimate control of the SA. He named himself Oberster SA-Fuhrer on September 2, with second in command to be the Stabschef answerable only to him.

Meanwhile there were the elections. Thirty million Germans went to the polls in September, 1930 and startled the world by making the Nazis the second largest party in the Reichstag with 107 seats. A total of 6,409,000 votes were cast for the Nazis. This was heady stuff for Hitler, who was pursuing his personal goal with a vengeance. The SA was venting its fury... it wanted a bloody revolution, fiot legal maneuvering, and it wanted the revolution now. Under those circumstances Rohm returned as Chief of Staff of the SA on January 5,1931, answerable only to Hitler.

Stennes wasn't through; he continued to fight for economic aid to the SA men in Group Ost, but it was a losing battle... he read in the paper that he had been deposed.

Hitler knew he needed Rohm and Rohm knew he needed Hitler. Goebbles and Goring felt threatened by Rohm's position next to Hitler and cleverly acquired some "love letters" the homosexual Rohm had written, and had them published in the newspapers. Rohm could have been impaled by the events, but he wasn't. Hitler came to his rescue with a statement that included these words, "the SA is not a moral institution for the education of well-to-do-daughters, but an association of rough fighters".

And so, on to Braunschweig. There, just 10 months after Rohm's return, Hitler received the salute of more than 100,000 loyal followers. He seemed to sense that this was the "true beginning" of his awesome power.

Braunschweig (Brunswick) was a town of 100,000, about 40 miles east of Hannover (about 150 miles west of Berlin). Today it has a population of about 275,000 and is just inside the West German border. One of the most famous pictures from the pre-war era is on the front cover of one volume of the TimeLife series on World War II, this one titled "The Nazis", and shows Hitler taking the salute of the marching SA troops in Braunschweig.

And now we come to the strange case of the badge itself. It comes in two variations (Type A and Type B). Type A measures 37mm by 50mm; Type B measures 37mm by 52mm. The badge consists of an eagle standing on a wreath which encirces a swastika and the words "SA TREFFEN BRAUNSCHWEIG 17/18 OKTOBER 1931".

Both badges were originally available as tinnies or "donation badges" sold at the rally...that's how the SA raised money. Then, when Hitler named the badge as one of the top "Party Decorations" of pride. Type B was recast as a solid badge.

But what happened to all these badges? The ones you usually see on dealer's tables are unfortunately not original. The original badge was finely detailed, even as a tinnie. I have discussed these badges with noted collectors at length. One internationally recognized German collector knows of only five (!) of the Type A in private collections and has never (repeat NEVER) seen a real Type A badge on a table at any show, anywhere!

Type B, the oval badge, is occasionally seen, usually the solid version, but usually not real. All one has to do is compare an original with its fine detail to the badges you find on tables at shows to see the difference. Examine the photos closely; the Type B is real. The Type A shown is an exact duplicate of one featured in a very well known book on badges of the Third Reich, but it is not real. I haven't handled the one that is in the book, but you can draw your own conclusions.

Furthermore, if you get copies of two of the most popular books on Third Reich badges now in print and compare the photos of the Type A badges in the two books... they don't match!

The prices of these badges on collector'stables at shows give them away. You can buy a Type A for, perhaps $50.00 and a Type B for about $90.00, but you are probably not buying the real thing.

Type B badges with hollow reverses were made in Silver/Zinc, (German Silver) and Aluminum. "Orden & Ehrenzeichen" lists the silver badges at about $500.00 and the rest at about $150.00. type B was made in Zinc and Aluminum with solid backs and are listed for about $150.00. Type A, with hollow back (which again is almost impossible to find) is listed at about $350.00.

And so the "common" SA Treffen badge IS not so common after all... is it?

* * *

Mickey Huffman is a contributing columnist to DG. He has written articles on the Golden Party Badge, The Blood Order, the Gestapo Warrant Discs, the Coburg Badge and the Nuremberg 1929 Badge. He is president of the North Texas Militaria Collector's Association.Bibliography for the article included "The SA, An Historical Perspective", by Jill Halcomb.

Mickey Huffman, "What Happened In Braunschewig?And What Happened to Their Badge", Der Gauleiter, 1990

Note from German Militaria Collectibles: The photos shown above were scanned from a copy of Der Gaulieiter. Unfortunately, the original photos are not available and this is the best I could get them to come out.... If you wish more info on these badges, you can find some, including photos, on the internet. Bob

The German Army Buckle

The newly introduced Heer buckle of 1935 retained the same basic design as the Reichsheer buckle, but with the introduction of the eagle clutching the swastika to replace the eagle of the Reichsheer. The eagle on the early specimen buckles faced to the viewer's right, but for some unexplained reason early in 1936 the buckle appeared with the eagle facing left. In March 1936 new regulations concerning the Reichsadler (national eagle) were introduced and in 1937 the eagle returned to the form looking right. Specimen illustrated above is the short-lived example facing to the viewer's left. Initial uniform regulations H.DV. 122 8/7 1935 required that the buckle be of a bright metal worn on a brown leather belt (the same regulations also called for a black leather belt for special occasions, but it did not further specify). It came in both the 45mm and 40mm sizes. The bright metal buckle was worn only with the parade or walking-out dress uniform.

The introductory order for the new army buckle was dated 24.1.1936 (HVBlatt 1936, Nr. 114), and further stated that the old pattern buckles (Weimar pattern) had to be used up. This use period, however, was probably short-lived because of the tendancy to show the swastika eagle as a state symbol was very pronounced. Supplement 100 of Nr. 60 of H.Dv. 122 Abschnitt A described the buckle in detail - "Dull grey buckle stamped out of light metal (aluminum alloy), 1.3mm thick, 6.4cm long and on the inner side 4.85cm wide. Stamped on the front side the Wehrmacht eagle as on the steel helmet - eagle looking to the left (to the viewer's right) - around the eagle the motto "GOTT M IT UNS" (God with us) and oak leaf branches. The color of the buckle to be the same as the color of the buttons. For privately purchased belts (lacquered or patent leather), belt buckles made of white colored aluminum alloy are allowed." The buckle described in Supplement 100 replaced a buckle of the following description -

"Dull grey buckle made of lmm thick 'neusilber,' 6.2cm long, on the inner side 4.5cm wide; shield diameter 4.2cm; Reichsadler (Weimar eagle) with GOTT MIT UNS and laurel branches. With privately purchased uniforms, a silver colored buckle." A leather "Widerhalt" (support for the right ammunition pouch) was also worn, but was discontinued, probably sometime after 1939.

It is interesting to note that, in addition to the change in the eagle, the laurel leaf wreath of the Weimar buckle was changed to oak leaves, a symbol of strength.

11(5).55c Heer: In 1936 a dull finished buckle was introduced to be worn with the service or combat uniform, but still retained the eagle facing left. However, it should be noted that the Overhoff & Cie. sales catalog dated 1935 depicted a buckle designated Dienstschloss 0718 which was finished in field-grey.

11(6).55 Heer: The Wehrmacht adler on the buckle was changed again in 1937 causing the eagle to face to the viewer's right. The bright buckle was worn with the parade or walking-out dress uniform, whereas the dull buckle was worn with the service or combat uniform. Example shown above measures 45mm.

11(7).55 Heer: Standard pattern 1937 Heer buckle with the eagle facing right, but measuring 40mm. This size buckle was only worn with the parade or walking-out dress uniform.

J.R. Angolia: "Belt Buckles & Brocades of the Third Reich", 1982.

R. James Bender Publishing