Word for the Week: Obergruppenführer

[AdamSmith]

I first came across the word 'Obergruppenführer' in Speer's grimly (and occasionally comically) fascinating memoir Inside the Third Reich. Various holders of the title were among the many figures throughout the Reich government who alternately thwarted and aided Speer's efforts to save the Nazi war-production program from misorganization in general and Hitler's increasingly counterproductive interventions in particular.

Wikipedia enlightens:

Obergruppenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932 as a rank of the SA, and adopted by the Schutzstaffel one year later. Until 1942, it was the highest commissioned SS rank, inferior only to Reichsführer-SS (Heinrich Himmler). Translated as "senior group leader",^[1] the rank of Obergruppenführer was considered senior to Gruppenführer.^[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obergruppenf%C3%BChrer

^{Gottlob Berger, commander of the SS-Hauptamt, wearing the rank insignia of an SS-Obergruppenführer and a superimposed Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross}

[RA1]

He basically ran the industrial might of Germany of the time. He deserved the title although I am not sure he wanted it for all it was worth. Who did?

There were some semi-sane folks among the hierarchy of the Nazi regime but they were completely overshadowed by Hitler. No surprise there.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

I was unclear. Speer's title (after being promoted from Chief Architect) was Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production.

The Obergruppenführers were apparatchiks a level beneath him who, in guarding their own turf, mainly frustrated his efforts.

[RA1]

Bureaucracies are the same regardless of the politics. I was just making a general statement about Albert.

Best regards,

RA1

[boiworship]

One of their most outlandish titles was Plenipotentiary for the Allocation of Labor. Then, the Soviets also had grandiloquent titles, like Marshal of the Soviet Union and Hero of the Soviet Union Georgi Zhukov, Chevalier of the Order of Victory and the Order of Lenin!

[boiworship]

I once told a Nordstrom salesman that Hugo Boss had designed the SS and SD uniforms.

[AdamSmith]

I once told a Nordstrom salesman that Hugo Boss had designed the SS and SD uniforms.

ROFLMAO

How did he react?

[boiworship]

After I explained who the SS and SD were he Blanched. I wonder if he subsequently used that in his sales pitch.

[AdamSmith]

Wonder if he would have cottoned any quicker if you had suggested a window display after the style of Boss's Hitler Youth uniforms?

[boiworship]

I recall controversies surrounding these kinds of displays in China, South Korea and Japan over the years

[AdamSmith]

Interesting! I didn't know that.

[RA1]

Tell us more, please.

Best regards,

RA1

[MsGuy]

Oh my god, it's (more or less) true. I thought Boiworship & AS were just yanking my autism spectrum chain.

From Wiki:

In 1924, Hugo Boss started a clothing company in Metzingen, a small town south of Stuttgart, where it is still based. Due to the economic climate of Germany at the time, Boss was forced into bankruptcy. In 1931, he reached an agreement with his creditors, leaving him with six sewing machines to start again.

That same year, he became a member of the Nazi Party and a sponsoring member ("Förderndes Mitglied") of the Schutzstaffel (SS). With their help, his economic situation improved. He also joined the German Labour Front in 1936, the Reich Air Protection Association in 1939, and the National Socialist People's Welfare in 1941. After joining these organizations, his sales increased from 38,260 RM ($26,993 U.S. dollars in 1932) to over 3,300,000 RM in 1941. His profits also increased in the same time period from 5,000 RM to 241,000 RM.

Though he claimed in a 1934-1935 advertisement that he had been a "supplier for National Socialist uniforms since 1924," it is probable that he did not begin to supply them until 1928 at the earliest. This is the year he became an Reichszeugmeisterei-licensed (official) supplier of uniforms to the Sturmabteilung, Schutzstaffel, Hitler Youth, National Socialist Motor Corps, and other party organizations.

For production in later years of the war, Hugo Boss used prisoners of war and forced labourers, from the Baltic States, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union.^[2] According to German historian Henning Kober, the company managers were fervent Nazis who were all great admirers of Adolf Hitler. In 1945 Hugo Boss had a photograph in his apartment of him with Hitler, taken at Hitler's Obersalzberg retreat.^[3]

[AdamSmith]

MsGuy, you must keep up with these things.

HB on that carefree afternoon at Obersalzberg...

[boiworship]

Here's one example of Asian fascination:

http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/pictures/nazi-chic-cosplay-chinese-netizen-reactions.html