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Reichsführer-SS

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Kai-Petri, Jul 11, 2003.

  1. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    There were a total of 5 men who held the position of Reichsführer-SS during the Third Reich.

    Julius Schreck (1925-1926)

    In April 1925, Hitler ordered Julius Schreck who was his chauffeur, to form a new headquarters guard that initially consisted of only 8 men. A week later, it was christened Schutzstaffel which means "protection staff". Deemed to be too "easy-going" by members of the SS, he was replaced as commander a year later.

    Joseph Berchtold (1926-1927)

    Considered to be more dynamic than Schreck, Berthold took command of the SS in 1926. But even he was finding it difficult to keep the Party organizers at bay and in March 1927 after much in-fighting, he resigned and was replaced by his deputy, Erhard Heiden.

    Erhard Heiden (1927-1929)

    Heiden instituted strict discipline among members of the SS thus becoming the first commander to foster a sense of "elitism" in its members.

    Heinrich Himmler (1929-1945)

    Karl Hanke (1945)

    Gauleiter for Niederschlesien, Karl Hanke replaced Himmler as the last Reichsführer-SS . During the final days in the Bunker in May 1945, Hitler realized that Himmler had betrayed him, stripped him of all his offices and rank and ordered his arrest. Karl Hanke was shot by Czech partisans in July 1945.


    http://members.rogers.com/ssocr/rfss.htm
     
  2. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Under Heiden’s leadership the SS declined in membership from 1,000 to 280, with SA desires made public that the SS should be disbanded. As Heiden attempted to keep the tiny group from going under, he hired a young chicken farmer, named Heinrich Himmler, to serve as his deputy. Heiden regarded Himmler as a “keen young clerk” but did not see him as leadership material. Nevertheless, in 1929, Heiden stepped down as commander of the SS and allowed Himmler to succeed him.

    In April 1933 Heiden was arrested and murdered on orders of Himmler and Heydrich by members of the Sicherheitsdienst ("Security Service"; SD), the intelligence and counterespionage department of the SS. His corpse was found in September 1933 and he was buried on 15 September 1933.
     

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