Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Volume 02 (of 11)

by United States. Office of Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality

Organized upon a hierarchical basis, forming a pyramidal structure, the principal Political Leaders on a scale of descending authority were:

Fuehrer

Reichsleiter (Reich Leaders) and Main Office and Office Holders

Gauleiter (District Leaders) and Staff Officers

Kreisleiter (County Leaders) and Staff Officers

Ortsgruppenleiter (Local Chapter Leaders) and Staff Officers

Zellenleiter (Cell Leaders) and Staff Officers

Blockleiter (Block Leaders) and Staff Officers

A large part of this and other evidence relating to the composition of the Leadership Corps of the Nazi Party is to be found in the 1943 edition of the Organization Book of the NSDAP, an authoritative primer on Nazi organizations which was edited by the defendant, Reich Organization Leader of the NSDAP, Dr. Robert Ley.

The Reichsleitung of the Leadership Corps consisted of the Reichsleiter or Reich Leaders of the Party, the Hauptaemter (Main Offices) and the Aemter (or Offices). The Reichsleiter of the Party were, next to Hitler, the highest officeholders in the Party hierarchy. All the Reichsleiter and Main Office and officeholders within the Reichsleitung were appointed by Hitler and were directly responsible to him. The Organization Book of the NSDAP puts it as follows: