Ortsgruppenleiter
Ortsgruppenleiter was a Nazi Party political rank and title which existed between 1930 and 1945. The term first came into being during the German elections of 1930, and was held by the head Nazi of a town or city, or in larger cities, of a neighbourhood, for the purposes of election district organization. After 1933, through the process of Gleichschaltung, the position of Ortsgruppenleiter evolved into the Nazi leader of a large town or city or of a city district.
Role in Municipal Government
After the founding of Nazi Germany, the political rank of Ortsgruppenleiter was held by the chief Nazi in a municipal area. In many situations, town and city administration overlapped with the Nazi political system, meaning that the traditional local government was overshadowed, if not entirely replaced, by Nazi leadership. Traditional government titles did continue to exist, such as Bürgermeister; however, if these positions were not already held by a corresponding Nazi official, city government was little more than a rubber stamp to Nazi designs.During World War II, the position of Ortsgruppenleiter encompassed a large amount of responsibility and power as it was these Nazi officials who typically ran the city civil defense systems as well as the allocation of war rations and civil relief efforts. As Germany was invaded and defeat became imminent, Nazi leaders in major towns and cities also became ad hoc military commanders in charge of mixed-unit German forces and Volksturm units.