Reichsführer-SS

Reichsfuhrer-SS was the name of the office of the head of the SS.

The title of Reichsführer was first created in 1926 by Joseph Berchtold. In 1929, Heinrich Himmler became Reichsführer-SS and referred to himself by his title instead of his regular SS rank. This set the precedent for the Commanding General of the SS to be called Reichsführer-SS.

Reichsführer-SS became the highest rank of the SS and was considered the equivalent of a Generalfeldmarschall in the German ARmy.

Himmler spent his term building the office to the second-most powerful position in the Greater German Reich after that of the Fuhrer. However, Himmler was the only Reichsfuhrer-SS to eventually ascend to the office of the Fuhrer.

Known Reichsfuhrer-SS

 * Joseph Berchtold, 1926–1927
 * Erhard Heiden, 1927–1929)
 * Heinrich Himmler, 1929-196?
 * Lothar Prutzmann, ????-2010