Highest NSDAP Rank Holders: Dienstleiter-Hauptbefehlsleiter

[Igor Karpov]

-Heinrich Bruhn
-(1905)- Born in Flensburg
-Zeichenlehrer
-(October 1, 1935)- Leave from State service due to transition into Party service
-Active at Vogelsnag und Krössinsee
-Military service
-(February 12, 1942 or March 31, 1942-May 1945)- Leiter Hauptschulungsamt der NSDAP
-(Spring 1943-May 1945)- Kommissarischer Burgkommandant Ordensburg Vogelsang
-Oberdienstleiter der NSDAP

As early/as late as December 4, 1942 he held the rank of Dienstleiter der NSDAP.

Regards,
Igor

[Pitino]

-I have evidence of Janowsky holding the HDL der NSDAP rang as early as (July 7, 1942) when he was promoted to Reichskassenwalter des NSRDS. However, there are also at least 2 signed documents where Janowsky is listed with the Oberbefehlsleiter der NSDAP rang. He signed them like this: i.V. Janowsky Oberbefehlsleiter and he signed one of them on (March 7, 1941) which is a full year ahead of the (July 7, 1942) HDL der NSDAP evidence. So, is it possible that he ws serving as an i.V. Oberbefehlsleiter for his boss, Hilgenfeldt? Also, he signed a document on (April 9, 1940) like this: i.V. Janowsky Hauptamtsleiter. I know for a fact that he was promoted to HAL der NSDAP in (December 1935) so why woul he have the i.V. in front of his name? Again, is it possible that he was serving as the i.V. Hauptamtsleiter for his boss, Hilgenfeldt, during that period too. Could he have been the representative for Hilgenfeldt in the Hauptamts fur Volkswohlfahrt during those times? Can anyone shed light here? For now I will say that I know for sure that Janowsky was HDL der NSDAP as early as (July 7, 1942) and not the ODL der NSDAP rank like I had on the earlier post.

As July 17, 1942 he is still listed as Oberdienstleiter der NSDAP.

Regards,


Igor

-Maybe in your source his promotion to HDL was not added yet! My source clearly has him signing a document on (July 17, 1942) als HDL der NSDAP Janowsky. What is your source? Without looking I think my source was "The NSV", but I will have to check. I am guessing that maybe his appt. date was (April 20, 1942).

Pitino

[lagace59400]

update list please thank you

[Pitino]

update list please thank you

I am working on it, but it takes awhile? My new list will go from HBefL to BerL and will include the office held within the NSDAP as reason for their rank. Finding reputable sources for specific appt dates is key! I cannot just throw a date out there if I cannot back it up. Be patient!

Pitino

[Pitino]

-I have found a nice update for the list!!! Dr. Gerhard Wagner and his appt. to HDL der NSDAP has been very allusive to me in my research. I had always seen 1936 for his date. Then awhile back I found February 1936! Well, I can finally announce that I have finally found his full promotion date. His appt. looked like this: "Im Nahmen der Ernennung aus Anlass des 20. April 1936 hat der Führer den bisherigen Hauptamtsleiter Dr. Gerhard Wagner zum Hauptdienstleiter in der Reichsleitung". So, after much research I can verify that he was appt. HDL on (April 20, 1936)! I am unsure where the (Feb. 1936) date came from , but maybe he was proposed for promotion to HDL in (Feb. 1936). Anyway, another Pre-War HDL der NSDAP promotion date bites the dust!!!! I think the only full HDL promotion date that are lacking belong to Schmeer(1935) and Reinhardt (summer 1934). If anyone can help here, it would be greatly appreciated!!!!

-("NS Monatshefte-Vol. 7, Issues 70-75", 1936, p.79)

Pitino

[Pitino]

-I saw a reference today that listed Herbert Hänssgen als Hauptbefehlsleiter des Reichsschatzmeisters!!!!! Could this be correct??? The reference is not a period reference and I think it may be incorrect. I believe that I have positively identified him as Befehlsleiter der NSDAP. Maybe the author just mixed it up on accident. Anyone else ever see him with this rank before?

Pitino

[Oberhessin]

According to his CV after 1945 he described himself als Befehlsleiter (Source: Denazification File)

[Pitino]

According to his CV after 1945 he described himself als Befehlsleiter (Source: Denazification File)

Oberhessin,
-That is what I thought and thanks for the verification!!!! Although, it would have been great to find a new HBefL d. NSDAP!

Pitino

[Oberhessin]

Give me a little bit time.
I have checked most of the head of the Amt des Reichsschatzmeisters with all their ranks, about 30 persons. Among them Evarist Straehler, Hermann Ried, Paul Ruoff, Anton Lingg, Josef Heldfmann, Gotthard Färber, Hans Saupert.

[Pitino]

Give me a little bit time.
I have checked most of the head of the Amt des Reichsschatzmeisters with all their ranks, about 30 persons. Among them Evarist Straehler, Hermann Ried, Paul Ruoff, Anton Lingg, Josef Heldfmann, Gotthard Färber, Hans Saupert.

Oberhessin,
-Straehler was replaced as Leiter des Revisionsamtes des Reichsschatzmeisters by Hannsgen in (1936). So, he most definitely did not become a HBefL der NSDAP. His highest rank was the Pre-War HAL rank. Hermann Ried attained the rank of HDL der NSDAP and may have even gone a little higher but he never made to the HBefL rank. Ruoff and Lingg buth attained the OBefL rank. Heldmann and Farber both were RAL in the Pre-War stucture and I will have to refer to my notes to find their post 1939 ranks. Saupert is the only bonified HBefL der NSDAP in your list of men!!!! He was a pre war HDL and was made HBefL on (April 20, 1940). Also, upon his retirement in 1943 he was HBefL z.V. im Ruhestand. The only HBefl der NSDAP men in the post 1939 structure are Fritz Todt, Hans Saupert, Friedrich Schmidt, Fritz Reinhardt and possibly Claus Selzner. Some sources have Selzner attaining the HBefL rank in 1941 but in his obituary he is listed as ObefL Selzner. It has been mentioned that he was awarded the rank upon his death but I have never seen a refernce on that. Thanks!

Pitino

[Pitino]

-Upon viewing the 1942 NS-jahrbuch I noticed that Paul Wegener is listed als stellvertr. GL. des Gaues Mark Brandenburg HDL Paul Wegener. So, we know that he would later be promoted to Gauleiter der NSDAP, but does anyone know the date for which he was appointed HDL der NSDAP???? This is the first time that I have seen Wegener with the HDL rank als a stellv. Gauleiter. His appt. date would be nice!

-("nationasozialistisches jahrbuch, 1942", p. 245)
Pitino

[Igor Karpov]

Add Dienstleiter Emil Koch-Schweisfurth.

Regards,
Igor

[Igor Karpov]

But if that is the case, did Zimmermann wear the uniform of a gauleiter? The few photos that I have seen of him during the 1940-42 period only show him wearing pre-1939 Kreisleiter collar tabs !!

Hans Zimmermann in uniform of Hauptbereichsleiter der NSDAP.

Regards,
Igor

[Pitino]

But if that is the case, did Zimmermann wear the uniform of a gauleiter? The few photos that I have seen of him during the 1940-42 period only show him wearing pre-1939 Kreisleiter collar tabs !!

Hans Zimmermann in uniform of Hauptbereichsleiter der NSDAP.

Regards,
Igor

Nice photo!

Pitino

[Pitino]

-I recently purchased a period book from (1938) and it has Dr. Todt's promotion to HDL der NSDAP within it!!! This is the first time that I have seen his actual promotion along with promotion date!!! It looks like this:

-Dr. Todt zum Hauptdiuenstleiter der NSDAP: (12. 16. 38)

-Der Fuhrer ernannte auf Vorschlag des StdF den Generalinspektor fur das deutsche Strassenwesen, Dr.-Ing. Fritz Todt, zum Hauptdienstleiter der NSDAP. Gleichzeitig wurde die Ernennung Dr. Todts zum Generalbevollmachtigten fur das Bauwesen bekanntgegeben.

Pitino