Ranks and insignia of the Nazi Party were paramilitary titles used by the National Socialist German Workers Party between 1925 and 1945. Such ranks were held by the political leadership corps of the Nazi Party, charged with the overseeing of the regular Nazi Mitgleider who were the regular rank and file Nazi Party members.

The first purpose of the Nazi party political ranks was to provide election district leadership positions during the years where the Nazis were attempting to come to power in Germany. After 1933, when the Third Reich had been established, Nazi Party ranks played a much more important role existing as a political chain of command operating side by side with the German government.

Nazi Party Ranks

Nazi Party titles

Adolf Hitler, who served as Führer of the Nazi Party, obviously held the highest possible Nazi Party rank although there was never any insignia or particular uniform established for Hitler as Führer of the Party.

Prior to 1939, Hitler wore a brown paramilitary uniform, considered the uniform of the Oberste SA-Führer (Supreme Storm Trooper Commander). Upon the outbreak of World War II, Hitler adopted a grey army style uniform, without any particular insignia, with Hitler pledging that he was the “first soldier” of the German Reich and would wear his army style uniform until “victory has been achieved or I do not survive the outcome”.

Other high Nazi positions, that did not entail any particular insignia, included the office of Deputy Führer held by Rudolf Hess until his flight to England when the office of Deputy Führer was abolished.

Martin Bormann held the title of Party Secretary, during which time he wore the uniform of a Nazi Reichsleiter. Bormann would later take up cabinet level positions in the German government, after which he wore the uniform of an SS-Obergruppenführer.