Supreme SA Leader

Supreme SA Leader
Oberster SA-Führer
Longest serving
Adolf Hitler
2 September 1930 – 30 April 1945
(pictured in 1933)
Sturmabteilung
AbbreviationSA
Member ofOberste SA-Führung
Reports toAdolf Hitler
Appointer
  • Adolf Hitler
Term length
  • Not fixed
FormationFebruary 1920
First holderEmil Maurice
Final holderAdolf Hitler
Abolished30 April 1945
DeputyStabschef

The supreme SA leader (German: Oberster SA-Führer), was the titular head of the Nazi Party's paramilitary group, the Sturmabteilung (SA).

History

The Sturmabteilung (SA) was the original paramilitary organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party of Germany. It played a significant role in Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and early 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for Nazi rallies and assemblies, disrupting the meetings of opposing parties, fighting against the paramilitary units of the opposing parties, especially the Roter Frontkämpferbund of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), and intimidating Romani, trade unionists, and especially Jews. To centralise the loyalty of the SA, Hitler personally assumed command of the entire organisation in 1930 and remained Oberster SA-Führer for the duration of the group's existence. After 1931, those who held the rank of Stabschef (Chief of staff), such as Ernst Röhm, were accepted as the commanders of the SA.

Insignia

The Oberster SA-Führer had no particular uniform insignia and was a paramilitary title that could be denoted in a variety of ways. Hermann Göring, for instance, created an elaborate uniform, with swastika armband accompanied with white service stripes. In contrast, Maurice wore simply a brown Nazi storm trooper shirt with no insignia, as did Hitler when he held the title of Oberster SA-Führer.[citation needed]

Office holders

No.Portrait Oberster SA-FührerTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyRef.
1
Emil Maurice
Maurice, EmilEmil Maurice
(1897–1972)		February 1920August 19211 year, 6 monthsNSDAP
2
Hans Ulrich Klintzsch
Klintzsch, Hans UlrichHans Ulrich Klintzsch
(1898–1959)		October 1921February 19231 year, 4 monthsNSDAP
3
Hermann Göring
Göring, HermannHermann Göring
(1893–1946)		1 March 1923November 19239 monthsNSDAP
None
(November 1923 – 1 November 1926)
4
Franz Pfeffer von Salomon
Pfeffer von Salomon, FranzFranz Pfeffer von Salomon
(1888–1968)		1 November 192629 August 19303 years, 301 daysNSDAP
5
Adolf Hitler
Hitler, AdolfAdolf Hitler
(1889–1945)		2 September 193030 April 1945 ‡‡14 years, 240 daysNSDAP

Timeline

This is a graphical timeline of the Oberster SA-Führer. They are listed in order of first assuming office.

Adolf HitlerFranz Pfeffer von SalomonHermann GöringHans Ulrich KlintzschEmil Maurice

The following chart lists the Oberster SA-Führer by lifespan, with the years outside of their tenure in grey.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The NSDAP and its organs and instruments (including the Völkischer Beobachter and the SA) were banned in Bavaria (and other parts of Germany) following Hitler's abortive attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic in the Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923. The Bavarian ban was lifted in February 1925 after Hitler pledged to adhere to legal and constitutional means in his quest for political power. See Verbotzeit. Though charged with the leadership of the SA in August 1926, Pfeffer von Salomon was not formally appointed Oberster SA-Führer until 1 November 1926.
  2. ↑ Pfeffer von Salomon submitted a letter of resignation on 12 August 1930, effective 29 August. Hitler accepted the resignation and named himself as Oberste SA-Führer effective 2 September.

References

  1. ↑ McNab 2009, pp. 14, 15.
  2. 1 2 McNab 2009, p. 14.
  3. ↑ Miller & Schulz 2015, pp. 29, 41.
  4. ↑ Miller & Schulz 2017, p. 353.
  5. 1 2 3 Höffkes 1986, p. 249.

Bibliography