Stabschef

Definition

The position of SA-Stabschef, not yet a rank, was established in 1929 to assist the Oberste SA-Führer (Supreme SA Leader) with the administration of the fast-growing organisation. Otto Wagener held the office under Oberste SA-Führer Franz Pfeffer von Salomon from 1928 to 1930, and effectively headed the SA from Hitler's assumption of the title Oberste SA-Führer in August until Ernst Röhm replaced him in January 1931.

The actual SA rank of Stabschef was created by Röhm for himself in 1933 after Hitler became chancellor. Although Hitler became the supreme commander of the SA in 1930, the day-to-day running of the organisation was left to the chief of staff. Thus, the men who held the rank of Stabschef after 1930 were the actual leaders of the SA.

Office holders

The office of Stabschef was held by four different people between 1929 and 1945 and was, in all but the first case of succession, inherited due to the death of a predecessor. The following SA officers held the office of Stabschef:

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1929 till:01/06/1945 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1929 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1930

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PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:PM

from: 01/10/1929 till: 31/12/1930 color:sa text:"Wagener" fontsize:10 from: 05/01/1931 till: 01/07/1934 color:sa text:"Röhm" fontsize:10 from: 01/07/1934 till: 02/05/1943 color:sa text:"Lutze" fontsize:10 from: 02/05/1943 till: 01/08/1943 color:sa text:"Jüttner (acting)" fontsize:10 from: 01/08/1943 till: 05/05/1945 color:sa text:"Schepmann" fontsize:10

Insignia

Early insignia for Stabschef consisted of an oak leaf patch worn on the collar of the stormtrooper uniform. Photographic evidence shows Ernst Röhm wearing such an insignia in his early days as the SA Chief of Staff. As Röhm's authority increased, so did his insignia and by mid 1931 photographic evidence shows him wearing wreathed star that was designed after that of a Bolivian general's collar, due to Röhm's previous military experience as a military adviser in Bolivia.

After 1933, the insignia for Stabschef consisted of a "crossed lances" pattern, wreathed by a half oak leaf circle. After 1934, the insignia was changed to a wreathed tri-foil oak leaf pattern similar to the SS rank insignia of Reichsführer-SS. With the fall of Nazi Germany, the Sturmabteilung ceased to exist and with it the Stabschef.

SA-Stabschef 1933.svg|Gorget patch (1933–1934) SA-Stabschef.svg|Gorget patch (1934–1945) SA OF10 ChdSt Schulterstück 1945.jpg|Shoulder patch (1933–1945)

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

1. (2010-06-23). "The Nazi Party 1919-1945: A Complete History". Enigma Books.