Obergruppenführer

Obergruppenführer was a high rank in the Schutzstaffel (SS), a paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. It was introduced in 1933 and was the second highest rank in the SS, below Reichsführer-SS. Obergruppenführer was a senior command position within the SS, held by individuals who typically led major SS formations or occupied important positions in the Nazi state.

Holders of this rank were often involved in the planning and execution of significant Nazi policies, including the Holocaust. They were granted considerable authority and were responsible for large numbers of personnel and complex operations. The rank itself was a symbol of immense power and influence within the Nazi hierarchy. Many Obergruppenführers were involved in military commands, police administration, and the security apparatus of the Third Reich.

The SS was divided into various branches, and an Obergruppenführer could hold command in any of them, including the Allgemeine SS (General SS), the Waffen-SS (armed SS), and the Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo, Security Police), which included the Gestapo and the Kriminalpolizei (Kripo). The rank was a clear indicator of an individual's loyalty and effectiveness in serving the Nazi regime's objectives.