What is a Gauleiter?

GAULEITERS were political leaders in Nazi Germany, helping manage local areas as the party fought for power.

The term was first used in 1925 – after Hitler refounded the Nazi party – when they were made regional leaders of the party.

The figures were heads of a given election district as the party attempted to gain political representation.

They hosted visits from senior party members on campaign tours and helped run election campaigns.

The Nazi insignia for the rank of Gauleiter consisted of two oak leaves worn on a brown coloured collar patch.

In 1933, when the Nazis took power and established the state of Nazi Germany, Gauleiter became the second highest Nazi paramilitary rank, ranking below the new rank of Reichsleiter – a national leader.

The Gauleiters became the heads of the Gauleitung, which were Nazi political regions set up to mirror the German states.

A Gauleiter was a representative of the Nazi Party who served to co-ordinate regional Nazi Party events and also served to “advise” the local government in theory.

But they were the unquestioned rulers of their particular areas of responsibility.