Sources
Höhne,
Heinz: Der
Orden unter dem Totenkopf. Die Geschichte der SS, Gütersloh
1967.
Longerich,
Peter: Heinrich
Himmler. Biographie, München
2008.
Reich Leadership SS
Official title for the leader of the National Socialist SS
In November 1926, Joseph Berchtold became the first Reichsführer SS. He had previously been known as Supervisor of the SS. He was succeeded by Erhard Heiden in 1927 and Heinrich Himmler at the beginning of 1929. The Reichsführer SS was initially subordinate to the supreme SA leadership until Hitler issued the order in August 1934 that Himmler was directly subordinate to him because of his “services“ in connection with the Röhm affair of June 30, 1934 and he appointed him Reich Leader in the party. The Personal Staff Reichsführer SS acted as Himmler’s governing body. In his will dated April 29, 1945, Hitler removed Himmler from all offices and appointed the Regional Leader (Gauleiter) Karl Hanke as the last Reichsführer SS.