Reichsleitung / Gauleiters Tabs

[Mark Costa]

Since starting this thread 2 years ago, some further information has come to light regarding those members of the Reichsleitung that wore these early collar tabs. A few names have been added to each list of styles.

Here is a list of all known members to have worn each style:

First Style (SA-Gruppenführer type) Reichsleitung tabs were worn by the following during the period of Feb 1933 to June 1933:

Buttmann, Rudolf
Feder, Gottfried
Ley, Robert
Hierl, Konstantin
Rosenberg, Alfred
Schwarz, Franz Xaver
Reinhardt, Fritz
Reiner, Rolf
Holzschuher, Wilhelm Von
Grimm, Wilhelm
Buch, Walter
Fiehler, Karl
Bouhler, Philipp

By mid 1934 the SA style tabs were only worn by Feder and Holzschuher. By the end of 1934 Holzschuher was no longer wearing them, only his SS-uniform, and Feder was no longer in the Reichsleitung.


The Second Style (Reichsorganizationleiter type) Reichsleitung tabs were worn by following from June 1933 until the new PL tabs were introduced in 1934.

Ley, Robert
Rosenberg, Alfred
Dietrich, Otto
Fiehler, Karl
Proksch, Alfred
Schumann, Walter
Hinkler, Paul
Gottschalk, Walter
Habicht, Theo
Schmeer, Rudolf

Ley, Rosenberg, Dietrich, Buch, Grimm, Schwarz, Bouhler and Fiehler starting wearing REICHSLEITER tabs when they were introduced in 1934. Some of the others wore their new PL tabs of various ranks as none of the others were Reichsleiters.
As stated previously, there are no regulations for either style of tabs and those that wore them were all attached to the Reichsleitung during the 1933-34 period before the final collar tab structure was introduced. Some of these men Proksch, Hinkler, Gottschalk and Habicht ended up as Honorary Gauleiters and later wore the BLACK Gauleiter tabs. Schmeer and Reinhardt later wore the Reichshauptdienstleiter tabs.

Buttmann, Feder and Reiner all were "purged" from the party by the end of 1934 and held no further ranks in the NSDAP. It is a mystery why other members of the Reichsleitung such as Bormann, Amann, Frank, Frick, Darré etc. did not wear either style during the 1933 early 1934 period. They all wore various other uniforms such as SS, SA or PL uniforms without tabs.

Mark Costa

[freddiefro]

Very informative, Mark! Thanks for posting.

Fred

[freddiefro]

Nice photo of Rudolf Schmeer with "Gauleiter-Style" Reichsleitung collar tabs. (Source: NARA)

Fred

[Mark Costa]

Schmeer is wearing the newly created tabs for the Reichshauptdienstleiter of which there were only a handful from 1934 to 1939. These tabs were actually authorized as opposed to the 1933 style Reichsleitung organizationleiter tabs. Schmeer's tabs shown here were carmine with SILVER oakleaves, wereas the organizationleiter tabs had GOLD oakleaves.

Mark Costa

[freddiefro]

Thank you, Mark! That is very helpful.

Fred