# Ortsgruppenleiter

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Nazi Party political rank

*Ortsgruppenleiter* in uniform (left), 1938

***Ortsgruppenleiter*** (Local Group Leader) was a [Nazi Party political rank](/source/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Nazi_Party) and title which existed between 1930 and 1945. The term first came into being during the German elections of 1930, and was held by the head Nazi of a town or city, or in larger cities, of a neighbourhood, for the purposes of election district organization. After 1933, through the process of *[Gleichschaltung](/source/Gleichschaltung)*, the position of *Ortsgruppenleiter* evolved into the Nazi leader of a large town or city or of a city district.[1]

## Role in Municipal Government

After the founding of [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany), the political rank of *Ortsgruppenleiter* was held by the chief Nazi in a municipal area. In many situations, town and city administration overlapped with the Nazi political system, meaning that the traditional local government was overshadowed, if not entirely replaced, by Nazi leadership. Traditional government titles did continue to exist, such as *[Bürgermeister](/source/Burgomaster)*; however, if these positions were not already held by a corresponding Nazi official, city government was little more than a [rubber stamp](/source/Rubber_stamp_(politics)) to Nazi designs.[2]

During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the position of *Ortsgruppenleiter* encompassed a large amount of responsibility and power as it was these Nazi officials who typically ran the city [civil defense](/source/Civil_defense) systems as well as the allocation of war [rations](/source/Rationing) and civil relief efforts. As Germany was invaded and defeat became imminent, Nazi leaders in major towns and cities also became *ad hoc* military commanders in charge of mixed-unit German forces and [Volksturm](/source/Volksturm) units.

## Insignia

Between 1930 and 1932, the political rank of *Ortsgruppenleiter* was denoted by a braided shoulder cord and a white collar bar worn on a Nazi Party brown shirt. After 1933, the rank was denoted by two light yellow collar bars. The actual rank of *Ortsgruppenleiter* was phased out of the Nazi Party in 1939, replaced by a large number of expanded paramilitary political titles. The position of *Ortsgruppenleiter* was after this time typically held by a Nazi with the rank of *[Abschnittsleiter](/source/Abschnittsleiter)*, paired as well with a [political armband](/source/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Nazi_Party#Armband_system) denoting the specific position of *Ortsgruppenleiter*.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Zentner, Christian *Ed*; Bedürftig, Friedemann *Ed* (1985). *Das große Lexikon des Dritten Reiches* (in German). München: Südwest Verlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-517-00834-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-517-00834-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Clark, J. (2007). Uniforms of the NSDAP. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing

v t e Paramilitary ranks of Nazi Germany Combat ranks Anwärter Schütze Oberschütze Sturmmann Rottenführer Unterscharführer Scharführer Oberscharführer Hauptscharführer Sturmscharführer Untersturmführer Obersturmführer Sturmhauptführer (until 1939) Hauptsturmführer Sturmbannführer Obersturmbannführer Standartenführer Oberführer Brigadeführer Gruppenführer Obergruppenführer Oberst-Gruppenführer Combat ranks Volkssturm Volkssturmmann Zugführer Kompanieführer Bataillonsführer Non-combat ranks Bewerber Aufseherin Mann Oberrottenführer HJ Staffelführer Truppführer Obertruppführer Haupttruppführer Sturmführer Blockführer Rapportführer Sonderführer Schutzhaftlagerführer Gauführer Untergruppenführer Stabsführer Reichsjugendführer Korpsführer Oberster SA-Führer Stabschef (SA) Reichsführer-SS Nazi Party ranks (NSDAP) Helfer Arbeitsleiter Bereitschaftsleiter Einsatzleiter Gemeinschaftsleiter Abschnittsleiter Bereichsleiter Dienstleiter Befehlsleiter Gauleiter Reichsleiter Admin position (NSDAP) Abteilungsleiter Amtsleiter Betriebsobmann Bezirksleiter Blockleiter Inspekteur Kreisleiter Mitarbeiter Ortsgruppenleiter Sonderbeauftragter Stellenleiter Stützpunktleiter Zellenleiter Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) RLB-Präsident Organizations Nazi Party Sturmabteilung Schutzstaffel Allgemeine SS SS-Verfügungstruppe Waffen-SS SS-Totenkopfverbände Hitler Youth National Socialist Motor Corps National Socialist Flyers Corps Volkssturm

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