Brigadeführer Explained

Brigadeführer
Service Branch: Schutzstaffel
Sturmabteilung
National Socialist Motor Corps
National Socialist Flyers Corps
Abbreviation:Brif
Rank:One-star
Nato Rank:OF-6
Non-Nato Rank:O-7
Formation:1933
Abolished:1945
Higher Rank:Gruppenführer
Lower Rank:Oberführer
Equivalents:Generalmajor

Brigadeführer (pronounced as /de/,) was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) that was used between 1932 and 1945. It was mainly known for its use as an SS rank. As an SA rank, it was used after briefly being known as Untergruppenführer in late 1929 and 1930.

History

The rank was first created due to an expansion of the SS and assigned to those officers in command of SS-Brigaden. In 1933, the SS-Brigaden were changed in name to SS-Abschnitte; however, the rank of Brigadeführer remained the same.

Originally, Brigadeführer was considered the second general officer rank of the SS and ranked between Oberführer and Gruppenführer. This changed with the rise of the Waffen-SS and the Ordnungspolizei. In both of those organizations, Brigadeführer was the equivalent to a Generalmajor and ranked above an Oberst in the German Army or police. The rank of Generalmajor was the equivalent of brigadier general, a one-star general in the US Army.The insignia for Brigadeführer was at first two oak leaves and a silver pip; however, the design was changed to three oak leaves in April 1942 after the creation of the rank SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer. Brigadeführer in the Waffen-SS or police also wore the shoulder insignia of a Generalmajor and were referred to as such after their SS rank (e.g. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS und Polizei).

Insignia

Junior Rank
Oberführer
SS rank and SA rank
Brigadeführer
Senior Rank
Gruppenführer

See also

Bibliography