# Zellenleiter

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Nazi Party political title

Zellenleiter uniform (left)

Zellenleiter armband (1930–33)

***Zellenleiter*** (German pronunciation: [\[ˈt͡sɛlənˌlaɪ̯tɐ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German); "[Cell](/source/Clandestine_cell_system) Leader") was a [Nazi Party political title](/source/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Nazi_Party) which existed between the years of 1930 and 1945. A *Zellenleiter* was higher in rank than a *[Blockleiter](/source/Blockleiter)* and was in charge of a "[Nazi Cell](/source/Nazi_Party)", composed of eight to twelve [city blocks](/source/City_block).

## History and Usage

The position of *Zellenleiter* was first created in 1930 as a mid-level political leadership title. Originally known as *Zellenwart*, in 1933 after the [Nazis came to power](/source/Nazi_Germany), the rank of *Zellenwart* was replaced by a new rank known as *[Stellenleiter](/source/Stellenleiter)*. It was the *Stellenleiters*, on the local level of the Nazi Party encompassing German towns and cities, who held the positional title of *Zellenleiter*, and were often referred to as such in contrast to their actual political rank. Such persons answered to an official known as an *[Ortsgruppenleiter](/source/Ortsgruppenleiter)*, considered the chief Nazi in a municipal region.

In 1939, the Nazi Party completely revamped its political ranking system and created a plethora of new [Nazi Party political ranks](/source/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Nazi_Party#Political_ranks) and the title of *Zellenleiter* was adopted into its final form. Holders of the position now held a standard Nazi political rank (normally *[Bereitschaftsleiter](/source/Bereitschaftsleiter)* or *[Einsatzleiter](/source/Einsatzleiter)*) while also displaying a [political armband](/source/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Nazi_Party#Political_armbands) denoting their position as a *Zellenleiter*. There were also three primary *Zellenleiter* positions, these being:

- *Zellenleiter* (Cell Leader)

- *Zellenwalter* (Cell Administrator)

- *Zellenobmann* (Cell Foreman)

Two special positions, known as *[Betriebszellenobmann](/source/Betriebsobmann)* and *Hauptbetriebszellenobmann* also existed, but were more focused on war production duties rather than the Nazi Cell command chain.

## Duties

The original political rank of *Zellenwart* was used to supervise local Nazi political leaders during a time when the Nazi Party was attempting to gain power in the [Weimar Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic). After the establishment of Nazi Germany in 1933, the political position of *Zellenleiter* became a type of political [strongman](/source/Strongman_(politics)) and was usually the highest Nazi official that the general population would have direct dealings with on a day-to-day basis.

During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the *Zellenleiters* oversaw the activities of the *Blockleiters* under their command. Primary focus was on the enforcement of Nazi policies, the promulgation of war production, and the administration of civil relief efforts, especially towards the end of the war when Germany was invaded. As defeat loomed for Nazi Germany, many *Zellenleiters* became associated with the [Volksturm](/source/Volksturm) and served as *ad hoc* military commanders when the need arose.

## Sources

- Clark, J. (2007). Uniforms of the NSDAP. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zellenleiter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zellenleiter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zellenleiter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.