''Zellenleiter'' (; " Cell Leader") was a Nazi Party political title which existed between the years of 1930 and 1945. A ''Zellenleiter'' was higher in rank than a '' Blockleiter'' and was in charge of a " Nazi Cell", composed of eight to twelve

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History and Usage

The position of ''Zellenleiter'' was first created in 1930 as a mid-level political leadership title. Originally known as ''Zellenwart'', in 1933 after the

Nazis came to power The rise to power of Adolf Hitler, dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, began in the newly established Weimar Republic in September 1919, when Hitler joined the ''German Workers' Party, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' (DAP; German Workers' Par ...

, the rank of ''Zellenwart'' was replaced by a new rank known as '' Stellenleiter''. It was the ''Stellenleiters'', on the local level of the Nazi Party encompassing German towns and cities, who held the positional title of ''Zellenleiter'', and were often referred to as such in contrast to their actual political rank. Such persons answered to an official known as an '' Ortsgruppenleiter'', considered the chief Nazi in a municipal region. In 1939, the Nazi Party completed revamped its political ranking system and created a plethora of new Nazi Party political ranks and the title of ''Zellenleiter'' was adopted into its final form. Holders of the position now held a standard Nazi political rank (normally '' Bereitschaftsleiter'' or '' Einsatzleiter'') while also displaying a political armband denoting their position as a ''Zellenleiter''. There were also three primary ''Zellenleiter'' positions, these being: * ''Zellenleiter'' (Cell Leader) * ''Zellenwalter'' (Cell Administrator) * ''Zellenobmann'' (Cell Foreman) Two special positions, known as '' Betriebszellenobmann'' and ''Hauptbetriebszellenobmann'' also existed, but were more focused on war production duties rather than the Nazi Cell command chain.

Duties

The original political rank of ''Zellenwart'' was used to supervise local Nazi political leaders during a time when the Nazi Party was attempting to gain power in the

Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic, officially known as the German Reich, was the German Reich, German state from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional republic for the first time in history; hence it is also referred to, and unofficially proclai ...

. After the establishment of Nazi Germany in 1933, the political position of ''Zellenleiter'' became a type of political

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and was usually the highest Nazi official that the general population would have direct dealings with on a day-to-day basis. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the ''Zellenleiters'' oversaw the activities of the ''Blockleiters'' under their command. Primary focus was on the enforcement of Nazi policies, the promulgation of war production, and the administration of civil relief efforts, especially towards the end of the war when Germany was invaded. As defeat loomed for Nazi Germany, many ''Zellenleiters'' became associated with the Volksturm and served as ''ad hoc'' military commanders when the need arose.

Sources

* Clark, J. (2007). Uniforms of the NSDAP. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing {{Nazi Germany paramilitary ranks Nazi terminology Nazi political ranks