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{{Short description|none}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Allgemeine-SS'' order of battle}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Allgemeine-SS'' regional commands}}
:''See "[[Waffen-SS divisions]]" for the [[Waffen-SS]] order of battle''
:''See "[[Waffen-SS divisions]]" for the [[Waffen-SS]] order of battle''


The '''Allgemeine-SS regional commands''' were titled ''SS-Oberabschnitte'' (SS Main Districts) and first were established on November 16, 1933. They replaced the earlier command structure composed of five ''SS-Gruppen'' and comprised the regional component of the ''[[Allgemeine-SS]]'' [[units and commands of the Schutzstaffel|command structure]]. They reported to the SS-''Amt'' (SS Office), in 1935 renamed the ''[[SS-Hauptamt]]'' (SS Main Office). Their commanders carried the title of ''SS-Oberabschnitte Führer'' and usually held the rank of SS-''[[Gruppenführer]]'' or SS-''[[Obergruppenführer]]''. Beginning in November 1937, when the [[Higher SS and Police Leader]]s were established, the ''SS-Oberabschnitte'' were subordinated to them. However, in nearly every instance, the ''SS-Oberabschnitt Führer'' held both positions simultaneously. The ''Oberabschnitt Führer's'' staff was headed by a ''Stabschef'' (Chief of Staff) who oversaw departments encompassing administration, training, personnel, medical affairs, as well as specialty units such as [[signals (military)|signals]] and [[pioneer (military)|engineer]] battalions.{{sfn|Yerger|1997|pages=82-83}}
The '''''Allgemeine-SS'' order of battle''' comprised the [[Units and commands of the Schutzstaffel|mustering formations]] of [[SS]] units in [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Austria]] that existed prior to and during [[World War II]].


[[File:NS administrative Gliederung 1944.png|thumb|380px| SS-''Oberabschnitte'' in 1944 are displayed in the third inset of the top row, right.]]
The basic mustering formations were made up of part-time SS members, considered the core of the [[Allgemeine-SS]]. The primary unit was the regiment sized ''Standarten'' and extending upwards to division strength ''Oberabschnitt'' commands. Within the Allgemeine-SS ''Standarten'' there were in turn subordinate battalions of ''Sturmbann'', themselves divided into company sized ''Sturme''.
These regional commands originally existed only in [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] and [[Austria under National Socialism|Austria]] and generally conformed to the existing ''[[Wehrkreis]]'' (Military Districts) of the ''[[Wehrmacht]]''. During the [[Second World War]], additional ''Oberabschnitte'' were established for six conquered areas ([[Baltic States]] & [[Byelorussian SSR|Byelorussia]], [[Bohemia and Moravia]], [[Netherlands]], [[Norway]], [[General Government|Poland]] and [[Ukrainian SSR|Ukraine]]). Other [[German occupied Europe|occupied territories]], however, did not have ''Oberabschnitte'' established, and SS personnel there were directly under the jurisdiction of the Higher SS and Police Leader for that area. By 1944, there were a total of 23 active ''Oberabschnitte''.{{sfn|McNab|2009|page=41}}


==''Oberabschnitte'' Commands==
The ''Sturm'' was further divided into platoon sized ''Truppen'' which were in turn divided into squad sized ''Scharen''. For larger Allgemeine-SS commands, the Scharen would be further dividied into ''Rotte'' which were the Allgemeine-SS equivalent of a [[fire team]].
The following table lists, by date of formation, the existing ''Oberabschnitte'' commands that were established from November 1933 through April 1944.{{sfn|Yerger|1997|pages=83-115}}{{sfn|McNab|2009|pages=34-35}}

==Senior-level commands==
The two senior-level formations of the Allgemeine-SS were the division sized ''Oberabschnitt'' and the brigade sized ''Abschnitt''.

===''Oberabschnitt'' commands===
The highest command level of the Allgemeine-SS formations. Many of the [[SS-Oberabschnitt]] commanders also served as [[SS and Police Leader]]s. The SS-Oberabschnitt was formed in the mid-1930s from older formations known as ''SS-Gruppen''. By 1942, the existing Oberabschnitt commands were as follows:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Designation !! Headquarters !! Years of Operation !! Last commander !! Notes
! Final Designation !! Headquarters !! Years of Operation !! Last permanent commander !! Notes
|-
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Alpenland|Alpenland]]||[[Salzburg]]||June 1, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-[[Brigadeführer]] Hermann Harm||One of two major Oberabschnitt in [[Austria]]
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Elbe|Elbe]]''||[[Dresden]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Ludolf von Alvensleben]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppen Ost'' and ''Südost''<br /> Renamed ''Mitte'' June 1934 – April 1936.<br />''Wehrkreis'' IV
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Mitte''||[[Braunschweig]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Rudolf Querner]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Nord''.<br />Formed as ''Oberabschnitt Nordwest''.<br />Renamed ''Mitte'' April 1, 1936.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XI
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Böhmen-Mähren|Böhmen-Mähren]]||[[Prague]]||April 1, 1944 – May 8, 1945||SS-[[Oberführer]] Emanuel Sladek||Primary Oberabschnitt in [[Czechoslovakia]]
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Nord''||[[Hamburg]]||November 16, 1933 – April 1, 1936||SS-''Obergruppenführer'' [[Werner Lorenz]]<br />||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Nord''.<br />Divided into SS-''Oberabschnitte Nord'' (later ''Ostsee'') and ''Nordwest'' (later ''Nordsee'').<br />''Wehrkreise'' II & X.
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Donau|Donau]]||[[Vienna]]||May 30, 1938 – May 8, 1945||SS-[[Gruppenführer]] [[Walter Schimana]]||Formed from Oberabschnitt Österreich in 1938
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Spree''||[[Berlin]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Sepp Dietrich]]<ref group="notes">From November 1939, SS-''Gruppenführer'' [[Max Schneller]] substituted for Dietrich who continued to hold titular command.</ref>||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Ost''.<br />Formed as ''Oberabschnitt Ost''. Renamed ''Spree'' November 14,1939.<br />''Wehrkreis'' III
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Elbe|Elbe]]||[[Dresden]]||April 4, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Ludolf von Alvensleben]]||Formed from Oberabschnitt Mitte in 1936
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Fulda-Werra||[[Arolsen]]||January 1, 1937 – May 8, 1945||SS-[[Obergruppenführer]] [[Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Josias Erbprinz zu Waldeck-Pyrmont]]
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Süd|Süd]]''||[[Munich]]||November 16, 1933 – April 20, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Karl von Eberstein]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Süd''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' VII
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Südost|Südost]]''||[[Brzeg|Brieg]];<br />[[Breslau]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Richard Hildebrandt]]||Former SS-''Gruppe Südost''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' VIII
|Lothringen-Saarpfalz||[[Saarbrücken]]||October 1, 1940 – October 15, 1941||SS-Gruppenführer [[Theodor Berkelmann]]||Renamed Oberabschnitt Westmark in 1941
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Main||[[Nuremberg]]||April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-Brigadeführer [[Benno Martin]]||
|''Südwest''||[[Stuttgart]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Otto Hofmann]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Süd''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' V
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Mitte||[[Braunschweig]]||April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Rudolf Querner]]||Formed from Oberabschnitt Nordwest in 1936
|''West''||[[Düsseldorf]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Karl Gutenberger]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppe West''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' VI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|Nord||[[Hamburg]]||October 1, 1932 – April 20, 1940||SS-Gruppenführer [[Hans-Adolf Prützmann]]||Divided into Oberabschnitts Nordsee and Ostsee in 1940
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Nordost||[[Königsberg]]||December 15, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Otto Hellwig]]
|''Nordost''||[[Königsberg]]||December 15, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Hans-Adolf Prützmann]]<ref group=notes>From December 1944, SS-''Gruppenführer'' [[Otto Hellwig]] substituted for Prützmann who continued to hold titular command.</ref>||Part of former SS-''Gruppe Ost''.<br />Formed from a portion of ''Oberabschnitt Nord''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' I
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Nordsee||[[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]]||April 20, 1940 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer Georg von Bassewitz-Behr||Formed from Oberabschnitt Nord in 1940
|''Rhein''||[[Koblenz]]||January 1, 1934 – September 11, 1943||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Theodor Berkelmann]]||Part of former SS-''Gruppe West''.<br />Formed from a portion of ''Oberabschnitt West''.<br /> Merged with ''Westmark'' in September 1943 to form ''Oberabschnitt'' ''Rhein-Westmark''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XII
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Nordwest||[[Oslo]]||April 20, 1940 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Wilhelm Rediess]]||Primary Oberabschnitt in [[Norway]].
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Donau|Donau]]''||[[Vienna]]||February 15, 1934 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Walter Schimana]]||Formed as ''Oberabschnitt Österreich''.<br />Renamed ''Donau'' May 1938.<br /> ''Wehrkreis'' XVII
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Ost(1)||[[Berlin]]||November 16, 1933 – November 14, 1939||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Sepp Dietrich]]||One of the original SS-Gruppen formed in 1929. Known as SS-Gruppe Ost until 1934, renamed Oberabschnitt Spree in 1939 no titular after Sepp Dietrich
|''Main''||[[Nuremberg]]||April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Benno Martin]]||Formed from a portion of ''Oberabschnitt Süd.''<br /> ''Wehrkreis'' XIII
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Ost(2)||[[Kraków|Krakau]]||September 15, 1942 – May 8, 1945||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Wilhelm Koppe]]||Primary Oberabschnitt in [[Poland]]. Named from former Oberabschnitt Ost located in Germany
|''Nordsee''||[[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]]||April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Georg-Henning Graf von Bassewitz-Behr]]||<br />Formed from division of the first ''Oberabschnitt Nord'' and named ''Nordwest''.<br />Renamed ''Nordsee'' April 20, 1940.<br />''Wehrkreis'' X
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Ostland|Ostland]]||[[Riga]]||December 12, 1941 – March 3, 1945||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Friedrich Jeckeln]]||Primary Oberabschnitt in [[Latvia]]
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Donau|Österreich]]||Vienna||February 15, 1934 – May 30, 1938||SS-Oberführer [[Ernst Kaltenbrunner]]||Renamed as Oberabschnitt Donau in 1938
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Ostsee||[[Stettin]]||February 1, 1940 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Emil Mazuw]]||Formed from Oberabschnitt Nord in 1940
|''Ostsee''||[[Stettin]]||April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Emil Mazuw]]||<br />Formed from division of the first ''Oberabschnitt Nord'' and also named ''Nord''.<br />Renamed ''Ostsee'' February 1, 1940.<br />''Wehrkreis'' II
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Fulda-Werra''||[[Arolsen]]||January 1, 1937 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Josias Erbprinz zu Waldeck-Pyrmont]]||Formed from portions of ''Oberabschnitte Rhein'' & ''Elbe''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' IX
|Rhein||[[Koblenz]]||January 1, 1934 – September 11, 1943||SS-Gruppenführer [[Theodor Berkelmann]]||Merged with Oberabschnitt Westmark in 1943 to form Oberabschnitt Rhein-Westmark
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Alpenland|Alpenland]]''||[[Salzburg]]||June 1, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Erwin Rösener]]<ref group=notes>From November 1944, SS-''[[Brigadeführer]]'' [[Hermann Harm]] substituted for Rösener who continued to hold titular command.</ref>||Formed from a portion of ''Oberabschnitt'' ''Donau''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XVIII
|Rhein-Westmark||[[Wiesbaden]]||September 11, 1943 – March 24, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Jürgen Stroop]]||Formed from Oberabschnitts Rhein and Westmark in 1943
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Spree||[[Berlin]]||November 14, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer Max Schneller (permanent deputy)||Known as Oberabschnitt Ost until 1939. Previous name then assigned to a new Oberabschnitt formed in Poland
|''Warthe''||[[Poznań|Posen]]||October 26, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Willy Schmelcher]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichsgau Wartheland|Wartheland]]''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XXI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Süd|Süd]]||[[Munich]]||April 4, 1936 – April 20, 1945||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Friedrich Karl Freiherr von Eberstein]]||Longest Oberabschnitt in continuous existence, known originally as SS-Gruppe Süd
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Weichsel''||[[Danzig]]||November 9, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Fritz Katzmann]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia|Danzig-West Prussia]]''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XX
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Südost|Südost]]||[[Brzeg|Brieg]] and [[Breslau]]||March 15, 1932 – May 8, 1945||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Richard Hildebrandt]]
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Südwest||[[Stuttgart]]||November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Otto Hofmann]]
|''Nord''||[[Oslo]]||April 20, 1940 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Wilhelm Rediess]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichskommissariat Norwegen]]''.<br />Third ''Oberabschittt'' named ''Nord''.
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Ukraina||[[Kiev]]||December 1, 1941 – September 2, 1944||SS-Obergruppenführer [[Hans-Adolf Prützmann]]||Primary Oberabschnitt in the [[Ukraine]]
|''Nordwest''||[[The Hague]]||May 23, 1940 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Hanns Albin Rauter]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichskommissariat Niederlande]]''.
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Westmark''||[[Saarbrücken]]; [[Neustadt an der Weinstraße|Neustadt]]; [[Metz]]||August 1, 1940 – September 11, 1943||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Theodor Berkelmann]]||Formed as ''Oberabschnitt Lothringen-Saarpfalz''. Renamed ''Westmark'' October 15, 1941.<br />Merged with ''Rhein'' in September 1943 to form<br />''Oberabschnitt'' ''Rhein-Westmark''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XII
|Warthe||[[Poznań|Posen]]||October 26, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer Willy Schmelcher
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|[[SS-Oberabschnitt Weichsel|Weichsel]]||[[Danzig]]||November 9, 1939 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer [[Fritz Katzmann]]
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Ostland|Ostland]]''||[[Riga]]||December 1, 1941 – March 3, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Friedrich Jeckeln]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichskommissariat Ostland]]''.
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Ukraina''||[[Kiev]]||December 1, 1941 – April 20, 1944||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Hans-Adolf Prützmann]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in ''[[Reichskommissariat Ukraine]]''.
|West||[[Düsseldorf]]||November 18, 1929 – May 8, 1945||SS-Gruppenführer Karl Gutenberger||Known originally as SS-Gruppe West
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|Westmark||[[Neustadt an der Weinstraße|Neustadt]] & [[Metz]]||October 15, 1941 – September 11, 1943||SS-Gruppenführer [[Theodor Berkelmann]]||Merged with Oberabschnitt Rhein in 1943 to become Oberabschnitt Rhein-Westmark
|''Ost''||[[Kraków|Krakau]]||September 15, 1942 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Wilhelm Koppe]]||''Oberabschnitt'' in the [[General Government]].
|-
|}

===''Abschnitt'' commands===
An intermediate command level existed between the supreme Oberschnitt commands the local Allgemeine-SS regiments. Known as the ''SS-Abschnitt'' these commands were formed between 1933 and 1935 from the older ''SS-Brigaden''. SS-Abschnitts were identified by Roman numeral designators, which were also displayed on the cuffbands of the Abschnitt member's [[Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS uniform]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Abschnitt Number !! [[Roman Numeral]] Designation !! Headquarters || Years of Operation !! Last commander
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''Rhein-Westmark''||[[Wiesbaden]]||September 11, 1943 – March 24, 1945||SS-''Gruppenführer''<br />[[Jürgen Stroop]]||Formed by merger of<br /> ''Oberabschnitte Rhein'' and ''Westmark''.<br />''Wehrkreis'' XII
|[[First SS-Abschnitt|1st]]||I||[[Munich]]||1930 – 1945||SS-[[Brigadeführer]] Franz Jaegy
|-
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|-align="center"
|''[[SS-Oberabschnitt Böhmen-Mähren|Böhmen-Mähren]]''||[[Prague]]||April 1, 1944 – May 8, 1945||SS-''Obergruppenführer''<br />[[Karl Hermann Frank]]<ref group="notes">From February 1945, SS-''[[Oberführer]]'' [[Emanuel Sladek]] substituted for Frank who continued to hold titular command.</ref>||''Oberabschnitt'' in the [[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia]].
|2nd||II
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|3rd||III
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|4th||IV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|5th||V
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|6th||VI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|7th||VII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|8th||VIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|9th||IX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|10th||X
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|11th||XI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|12th||XII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|13th||XIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|14th||XIV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|15th||XV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|16th||XVI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|17th||XVII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|18th||XVIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|19th||XIX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|20th||XX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|21st||XXI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|22nd||XXII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|23rd||XXIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|24th||XXIV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|25th||XXV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|26th||XXVI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|27th||XXVII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|28th||XXVIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|29th||XXIX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|30th||XXX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|31st||XXXI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|32nd||XXXII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|33rd||XXXIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|34th||XXXIV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|35th||XXXV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|36th||XXXVI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|[[Thirty Seventh SS-Abschnitt|37th]]||XXXVII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|38th||XXXVIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|39th||XXXIX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|40th||XXXX
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|41st||XXXXI
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|42nd||XXXXII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|43rd||XXXXIII
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|44th||XXXXIV
|-
|colspan="7" bgcolor="DCDCDC"| <!--spacing-->
|-align="center"
|45th||XXXXV
|-
|-
|}
|}


==Notes==
The SS also maintained the following brigade cavalry commands for Allgemeine-SS cavalry units:
{{reflist|group=notes}}


==References==
* Reiterabschnitt I
{{Reflist}}
* Reiterabschnitt II
* Reiterabschnitt V
* Reiterabschnitt VI
* Reiterabschnitt VII
* Reiterabschnitt VIII
* Reiterabschnitt IX


==Sources==
==Regimental commands==
*{{cite book | last = McNab | first = Chris | title = The SS: 1923–1945 | publisher = Amber Books | location = London | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-1-90662-649-5}}
The core units of the Allgemeine-SS were the regiment sized ''Standarten'' which were divided into "foot regiments" and "[[cavalry]] units".
*{{cite book |last = Yerger |first = Mark C. |title= Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units and Leaders of the General SS |publisher =Schiffer Publishing Ltd. |year = 1997 |isbn = 0-7643-0145-4}}


==Further reading==
===''Standarten'' commands===
*{{cite book | last = Höhne | first = Heinz | title = The Order of the Death's Head: The Story of Hitler's SS | publisher = Penguin | year = 2001 | orig-year = 1969 | isbn = 978-0-14139-012-3}}
In all, the SS formed a total of one hundred and twenty seven "Fuß Standarten" some of which were accorded honor titles.

* [[1st SS-Standarte]] ([[Julius Schreck]])
* 2nd SS-Standarte (Hessen)
* 3rd SS-Standarte
* 4th SS-Standarte (Schleswig-Holstein)
* 5th SS-Standarte (Mosel)
* [[6th SS-Standarte]] (Eduard Felsen & Charlottenburg)
* 7th SS-Standarte (Fritz Schlegel)
* 8th SS-Standarte (Niederschlesien)
* 9th SS-Standarte (Pommern)
* 10th SS-Standarte (Pfalz)
* [[11th SS-Standarte]] (Planetta & Burgenland)
* 12th SS-Standarte (Niedersachsen)
* [[13th SS-Standarte]] ([[Württemberg]])
* 14th SS-Standarte (Gothaland & Thüringen)
* 15th SS-Standarte ([[Brandenburg]])
* 16th SS-Standarte (Unterelbe)
* [[17th SS-Standarte]]
* [[18th SS-Standarte]] (Ostpreußen)
* 19th SS-Standarte (Westfalen-Nord)
* 20th SS-Standarte ([[Fritz Weitzel]])
* 21st SS-Standarte
* 22nd SS-Standarte (von der Schulenburg & Mecklenburg)
* [[23rd SS-Standarte]] (Oberschlesien)
* 24th SS-Standarte (Ostfriesland)
* 25th SS-Standarte (Ruhr)
* 26th SS-Standarte (Paul Berck)
* 27th SS-Standarte (Ostmark)
* 28th SS-Standarte
* 29th SS-Standarte (Schwaben)
* 30th SS-Standarte (Adolf Höh & Westfalen-Süd)
* 31st SS-Standarte (Niederbayern)
* 32nd SS-Standarte (Baden)
* 33rd SS-Standarte (Rhein-Hessen)
* 34th SS-Standarte (Oberbayern)
* 35th SS-Standarte
* 36th SS-Standarte
* 37th SS-Standarte (Ob der Enns)
* 38th SS-Standarte
* 39th SS-Standarte (Ostpommern)
* 40th SS-Standarte
* 41st SS-Standarte (Oberfranken)
* 42nd SS-Standarte (Fritz von Scholz)
* 43rd SS-Standarte
* 44th SS-Standarte (Uckermark)
* 45th SS-Standarte (Neisse)
* 46th SS-Standarte
* 47th SS-Standarte
* 48th SS-Standarte
* 49th SS-Standarte (Braunschweig)
* 50th SS-Standarte (Nordschleswig)
* 51st SS-Standarte (Harz)
* 52nd SS-Standarte (Unter-Enns)
* 53rd SS-Standarte (Dithmarschen)
* 54th SS-Standarte (Seidel-Dittmarsh)
* 55th SS-Standarte (Weser)
* 56th SS-Standarte (Franken)
* 57th SS-Standarte (Thüringer Wald)
* 58th SS-Standarte
* 59th SS-Standarte (Loeper)
* 60th SS-Standarte
* 61st SS-Standarte (Masuren)
* 62nd SS-Standarte
* 63rd SS-Standarte (Württemberg Süd)
* 64th SS-Standarte (Marienburg)
* 65th SS-Standarte (Schwarzwald)
* 66th SS-Standarte (Friedland)
* 67th SS-Standarte (Wartburg)
* 68th SS-Standarte (Oberpfalz)
* 69th SS-Standarte (Sauerland)
* 70th SS-Standarte
* 71st SS-Standarte (Weichsel)
* 72nd. SS-Standarte (Lippe)
* 73rd SS-Standarte (Mittelfranken)
* 74th SS-Standarte (Ostsee)
* 75th SS-Standarte (Widukind & Tempelhof)
* [[76th SS-Standarte]]
* [[77th SS-Standarte]]
* 78th SS-Standarte
* 79th SS-Standarte
* 80th SS-Standarte (Groß-Beeren)
* 81st SS-Standarte
* 82nd SS-Standarte
* 83rd SS-Standarte (Oberhessen)
* 84th SS-Standarte (Saale)
* 85th SS-Standarte
* 86th SS-Standarte (Hanauer Land)
* 87th SS-Standarte (Tirol)
* 88th SS-Standarte (Stedingen)
* 89th SS-Standarte (Holzweber)
* 90th SS-Standarte (Franz Kutschera & Kärnten)
* 91st SS-Standarte
* 92nd SS-Standarte (Alt-Bayern)
* 93rd SS-Standarte
* 94th SS-Standarte (Obersteiermark)
* 95th SS-Standarte
* 96th SS-Standarte
* 97th SS-Standarte
* 98th SS-Standarte
* 99th SS-Standarte
* 100th SS-Standarte
* 101st SS-Standarte
* 102nd SS-Standarte
* 103rd SS-Standarte
* 104th SS-Standarte
* 105th SS-Standarte
* 106th SS-Standarte
* 107th SS-Standarte
* 108th SS-Standarte
* 109th SS-Standarte
* 110th SS-Standarte
* 111th SS-Standarte
* 112th SS-Standarte
* 113th SS-Standarte
* 114th SS-Standarte
* 115th SS-Standarte
* 116th SS-Standarte
* 117th SS-Standarte
* [[118th SS-Standarte]]
* [[119th SS-Standarte]]
* [[120th SS-Standarte]]
* [[121st SS-Standarte]]
* [[122nd SS-Standarte]]
* 123rd SS-Standarte
* 124th SS-Standarte
* 125th SS-Standarte
* [[126th SS-Standarte]]
* [[127th SS-Standarte]]

===SS cavalry regiments===
The Allgemeine-SS maintained twenty four cavalry regiments which were organized in the same manner as the regular SS-Standarten but used a special collar patch, displaying crossed [[lance]]s, as a unit insignia. The ''Reiter-SS'' came to an effective end at the start of World War II, as most of its members transferred into the Waffen-SS as cavalry officers. After this point, the Allgemeine-SS cavalry existed on paper only. At the [[Nuremberg Trials]], special mention was made that the General-SS cavalry was exempt from the classification as a "criminal organization" which had been applied to the rest of the SS.

The Reiter-SS units were as follows:

* SS-Reiterstandarte 1
* SS-Reiterstandarte 2
* SS-Reiterstandarte 3
* SS-Reiterstandarte 4
* SS-Reiterstandarte 5
* SS-Reiterstandarte 6
* SS-Reiterstandarte 7
* SS-Reiterstandarte 8
* SS-Reiterstandarte 9
* SS-Reiterstandarte 10
* SS-Reiterstandarte 11
* SS-Reiterstandarte 12
* SS-Reiterstandarte 13
* SS-Reiterstandarte 14
* SS-Reiterstandarte 15
* SS-Reiterstandarte 16
* SS-Reiterstandarte 17
* SS-Reiterstandarte 18
* SS-Reiterstandarte 19
* SS-Reiterstandarte 20
* SS-Reiterstandarte 21
* SS-Reiterstandarte 22
* SS-Reiterstandarte 23
* SS-Reiterstandarte 24

==Specialty commands==
In addition to its regular formations, the Allgemeine-SS maintained special-purpose units for transport, signals, and engineering. A brief experiment in 1931 also attempted to form an SS-flight unit. These units were known as:

'''SS-Kraftfahrstürme'''<br/>
Nineteen transport companies were formed by the SS throughout Germany. The areas of responsibility were:
* 1st KfS ([[Munich|München]] & Augsburg)
* 2nd KfS ([[Erfurt]])
* 3rd KfS ([[Berlin]] & [[Senftenberg]])
* 4th KfS ([[Hamburg]], [[Kiel]] & [[Bremen]])
* 5th KfS ([[Düsseldorf]], [[Buer, Germany|Buer]], & [[Dortmund]])
* 6th KfS ([[Dresden]] & [[Chemnitz]])
* 7th KfS ([[Königsberg]])
* 8th KfS ([[Linz]] & [[Vienna, Austria|Wien]])
* 9th KfS ([[Breslau]])
* 10th KfS ([[Stuttgart]], [[Karlsruhe]], & [[Freiburg]])
* 11th KfS ([[Magdeburg]] & [[Hannover]])
* 12th KfS ([[Bamberg]], [[Schweinfurt]], & [[Nuremberg|Nürnberg]])
* 13th KfS ([[Schwerin]] & [[Stettin]])
* 14th KfS ([[Frankfurt, Germany|Frankfurt-am-Main]], [[Wiesbaden]], & [[Pirmasens]])
* 15th KfS ([[Graz]] & [[Innsbruck]])
* 16th KfS ([[Danzig]] & [[Elbing]])
* 17th KfS ([[Poznań|Posen]] & [[Litzmannstadt]])
* 18th KfS (Never formed)
* 19th Kfs ([[Aš|Asch]], [[Liberec|Reichenberg]], & [[Brünn]])

'''SS-Nachrichtensturmbanne'''<br/>
The following signal battalions were formed throughout Germany and Austria by the Allgemeine-SS. A single signal battalion was also formed in [[Czechoslovakia]].
* 1st NrS (München)
* 2nd NrS ([[Stuttgart]])
* 3rd NrS ([[Arolsen]])
* 4th NrS ([[Düsseldorf]])
* 5th NrS ([[Braunschweig]])
* 6th NrS ([[Hamburg]])
* 7th NrS ([[Königsberg]])
* 8th NrS ([[Berlin]])
* 9th NrS ([[Dresden]])
* 10th NrS ([[Breslau]])
* 11th NrS (Nürnberg)
* 12th NrS ([[Stettin]])
* 13th NrS (Wiesbaden)
* 14th NrS (Wien)
* 15th NrS (Never formed)
* 16th NrS (Danzig)
* 17th NrS ([[Poznań|Posen]])
* 18th NrS (Never formed)
* 19th NrS ([[Prague]])

'''SS-Pioniersturmbanne'''<br/>
Engineering battalions were maintained by the Allgemeine-SS in the following cities:
* 1st PsB (München)
* 2nd PsB (Stuttgart)
* 3rd PsB (Arolsen)
* 4th PsB ([[Köln]])
* 5th PsB (Harburg-Wilhelmsburg)
* 6th PsB (Stettin)
* 7th PsB (Königsberg)
* 8th PsB (Berlin)
* 9th PsB (Dresden)
* 10th PsB (Breslau)
* 11th PsB (Never formed)
* 12th PsB ([[Magdeburg]])
* 13th PsB (Frankfurt-am-Main)
* 14th PsB (Wien)
* 15th PsB ([[Salzburg]])
* 16th PsB ([[Danzig]])

'''SS-Fliegersturm'''

In November 1931, the SS briefly commissioned a flight unit consisting of a small number of SS personnel trained to fly powered aircraft. An extremely rare [[Political decorations of the Nazi Party|SS badge]], known as the ''SS-SA Fliegerabzeichen'', was issued to most members of the SS-Fliegersturm. The Fliegersturm was disbanded after only a few months and its members merged into other Nazi organizations such as the [[National Socialist Flyers Corps]].

'''SS Naval Units'''

In the mid-1930s, there was some discussion in SS leadership circles to form a special corps of SS-[[Navy|naval]] units, mainly due to the [[Sturmabteilung|SA]], the early rival to the SS, having formed its own marine unit (SA-Marine). However, due to [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s general disinterest in naval affairs, an SS naval corps was never founded although many members of the Allgemeine-SS did serve on active duty in the [[Kriegsmarine]].

==External links==
* [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=63 SS Organization at the "Axis History Factbook"]

==References==
* Yerger, Mark C. ''Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units, and Leaders of the General SS'', Schiffer Publishing (1997). ISBN 0-7643-0145-4


{{Allgemeine-SS}}
{{Allgemeine-SS}}
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[[Category:Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 16 August 2023

See "Waffen-SS divisions" for the Waffen-SS order of battle

The Allgemeine-SS regional commands were titled SS-Oberabschnitte (SS Main Districts) and first were established on November 16, 1933. They replaced the earlier command structure composed of five SS-Gruppen and comprised the regional component of the Allgemeine-SS command structure. They reported to the SS-Amt (SS Office), in 1935 renamed the SS-Hauptamt (SS Main Office). Their commanders carried the title of SS-Oberabschnitte Führer and usually held the rank of SS-Gruppenführer or SS-Obergruppenführer. Beginning in November 1937, when the Higher SS and Police Leaders were established, the SS-Oberabschnitte were subordinated to them. However, in nearly every instance, the SS-Oberabschnitt Führer held both positions simultaneously. The Oberabschnitt Führer's staff was headed by a Stabschef (Chief of Staff) who oversaw departments encompassing administration, training, personnel, medical affairs, as well as specialty units such as signals and engineer battalions.[1]

SS-Oberabschnitte in 1944 are displayed in the third inset of the top row, right.

These regional commands originally existed only in Germany and Austria and generally conformed to the existing Wehrkreis (Military Districts) of the Wehrmacht. During the Second World War, additional Oberabschnitte were established for six conquered areas (Baltic States & Byelorussia, Bohemia and Moravia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Ukraine). Other occupied territories, however, did not have Oberabschnitte established, and SS personnel there were directly under the jurisdiction of the Higher SS and Police Leader for that area. By 1944, there were a total of 23 active Oberabschnitte.[2]

Oberabschnitte Commands

[edit]

The following table lists, by date of formation, the existing Oberabschnitte commands that were established from November 1933 through April 1944.[3][4]

Final Designation Headquarters Years of Operation Last permanent commander Notes
Elbe Dresden November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Ludolf von Alvensleben		 Part of former SS-Gruppen Ost and Südost
Renamed Mitte June 1934 – April 1936.
Wehrkreis IV
Mitte Braunschweig November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Rudolf Querner		 Part of former SS-Gruppe Nord.
Formed as Oberabschnitt Nordwest.
Renamed Mitte April 1, 1936.
Wehrkreis XI
Nord Hamburg November 16, 1933 – April 1, 1936 SS-Obergruppenführer Werner Lorenz
 Part of former SS-Gruppe Nord.
Divided into SS-Oberabschnitte Nord (later Ostsee) and Nordwest (later Nordsee).
Wehrkreise II & X.
Spree Berlin November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Sepp Dietrich[notes 1]		 Part of former SS-Gruppe Ost.
Formed as Oberabschnitt Ost. Renamed Spree November 14,1939.
Wehrkreis III
Süd Munich November 16, 1933 – April 20, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Karl von Eberstein		 Part of former SS-Gruppe Süd.
Wehrkreis VII
Südost Brieg;
Breslau		 November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Richard Hildebrandt		 Former SS-Gruppe Südost.
Wehrkreis VIII
Südwest Stuttgart November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Otto Hofmann		 Part of former SS-Gruppe Süd.
Wehrkreis V
West Düsseldorf November 16, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Karl Gutenberger		 Part of former SS-Gruppe West.
Wehrkreis VI
Nordost Königsberg December 15, 1933 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Hans-Adolf Prützmann[notes 2]		 Part of former SS-Gruppe Ost.
Formed from a portion of Oberabschnitt Nord.
Wehrkreis I
Rhein Koblenz January 1, 1934 – September 11, 1943 SS-Gruppenführer
Theodor Berkelmann		 Part of former SS-Gruppe West.
Formed from a portion of Oberabschnitt West.
Merged with Westmark in September 1943 to form Oberabschnitt Rhein-Westmark.
Wehrkreis XII
Donau Vienna February 15, 1934 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Walter Schimana		 Formed as Oberabschnitt Österreich.
Renamed Donau May 1938.
Wehrkreis XVII
Main Nuremberg April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Benno Martin		 Formed from a portion of Oberabschnitt Süd.
Wehrkreis XIII
Nordsee Altona April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Georg-Henning Graf von Bassewitz-Behr
Formed from division of the first Oberabschnitt Nord and named Nordwest.
Renamed Nordsee April 20, 1940.
Wehrkreis X
Ostsee Stettin April 1, 1936 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Emil Mazuw
Formed from division of the first Oberabschnitt Nord and also named Nord.
Renamed Ostsee February 1, 1940.
Wehrkreis II
Fulda-Werra Arolsen January 1, 1937 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Josias Erbprinz zu Waldeck-Pyrmont		 Formed from portions of Oberabschnitte Rhein & Elbe.
Wehrkreis IX
Alpenland Salzburg June 1, 1939 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Erwin Rösener[notes 3]		 Formed from a portion of Oberabschnitt Donau.
Wehrkreis XVIII
Warthe Posen October 26, 1939 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Willy Schmelcher		 Oberabschnitt in Wartheland.
Wehrkreis XXI
Weichsel Danzig November 9, 1939 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Fritz Katzmann		 Oberabschnitt in Danzig-West Prussia.
Wehrkreis XX
Nord Oslo April 20, 1940 – May 8, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Wilhelm Rediess		 Oberabschnitt in Reichskommissariat Norwegen.
Third Oberabschittt named Nord.
Nordwest The Hague May 23, 1940 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Hanns Albin Rauter		 Oberabschnitt in Reichskommissariat Niederlande.
Westmark Saarbrücken; Neustadt; Metz August 1, 1940 – September 11, 1943 SS-Gruppenführer
Theodor Berkelmann		 Formed as Oberabschnitt Lothringen-Saarpfalz. Renamed Westmark October 15, 1941.
Merged with Rhein in September 1943 to form
Oberabschnitt Rhein-Westmark.
Wehrkreis XII
Ostland Riga December 1, 1941 – March 3, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Friedrich Jeckeln		 Oberabschnitt in Reichskommissariat Ostland.
Ukraina Kiev December 1, 1941 – April 20, 1944 SS-Obergruppenführer
Hans-Adolf Prützmann		 Oberabschnitt in Reichskommissariat Ukraine.
Ost Krakau September 15, 1942 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Wilhelm Koppe		 Oberabschnitt in the General Government.
Rhein-Westmark Wiesbaden September 11, 1943 – March 24, 1945 SS-Gruppenführer
Jürgen Stroop		 Formed by merger of
Oberabschnitte Rhein and Westmark.
Wehrkreis XII
Böhmen-Mähren Prague April 1, 1944 – May 8, 1945 SS-Obergruppenführer
Karl Hermann Frank[notes 4]		 Oberabschnitt in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ From November 1939, SS-Gruppenführer Max Schneller substituted for Dietrich who continued to hold titular command.
  2. ^ From December 1944, SS-Gruppenführer Otto Hellwig substituted for Prützmann who continued to hold titular command.
  3. ^ From November 1944, SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Harm substituted for Rösener who continued to hold titular command.
  4. ^ From February 1945, SS-Oberführer Emanuel Sladek substituted for Frank who continued to hold titular command.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Yerger 1997, pp. 82–83.
  2. ^ McNab 2009, p. 41.
  3. ^ Yerger 1997, pp. 83–115.
  4. ^ McNab 2009, pp. 34–35.

Sources

[edit]
  • McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-90662-649-5.
  • Yerger, Mark C. (1997). Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units and Leaders of the General SS. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-0145-4.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Höhne, Heinz (2001) [1969]. The Order of the Death's Head: The Story of Hitler's SS. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14139-012-3.

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