| Oberführer | |
|---|---|
 SS Gorget patch | |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Service branch |  Schutzstaffel Sturmabteilung National Socialist Motor Corps National Socialist Flyers Corps |
| Abbreviation | Oberf |
| NATOrank code | OF-5 |
| Formation | 1921 |
| Abolished | 1945 |
| Next higher rank | Brigadeführer |
| Next lower rank | Standartenführer |
| Equivalent ranks | Oberst |
Oberführer (short:Oberf,[ˈoːbɐfyːʁɐ],lit. 'senior leader') was an early paramilitary rank of theNazi Party (NSDAP) dating back to 1921. AnOberführer was typically an NSDAP member in charge of a group of paramilitary units in a particular geographical region.[1] From 1921 to 1925, the phraseOberführer was used as a title in theSturmabteilung (SA), but became an actualSA rank after 1926.
Oberführer was also arank of theSchutzstaffel (SS, at that time a branch of the SA), established in 1925 asGauführer, a rank for SS officers in charge of SS personnel in the severalGaue throughout Germany; in 1928 the rank was renamedOberführer, and used of the commanders of the three regionalSS-Oberführerbereiche. In 1930, the SS was reorganized intoSS-Gruppen andBrigaden, at which timeOberführer became subordinate to the higher rank ofBrigadeführer. By 1932,Oberführer was an established rank of the SA, SS andNSKK.[1][2]
Oberführer wore two oak leaves on the uniform collar rank patch, along with the shoulder boards and lapels of a general officer.[3] In 1938, the status ofSS-Oberführer began to change with the rise of theSS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), which would later become theWaffen-SS. SinceBrigadeführer was rated equal to aGeneralmajor, andStandartenführer to anOberst,Oberführer had no military equivalent and quickly became regarded as asenior colonel rank.[4] This distinction continues in historical circles with most texts referring toOberführer as a senior colonel rank[4][5] while some others state it was a military equivalent to a British Armybrigadier.[6]
| Oberführer SS, SA, NSKK, and NSFK | ||||||
| Schutzstaffel (SS) | Sturmabteilung (SA) | NS Motor Corps (NSKK) | NS Flyers Corps (NSFK) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Waffen-SS |
| collar insignia | ||||
| Junior Rank Standartenführer | SS rank andSA rank Oberführer | Senior Rank Brigadeführer |