Nordwest

 

NW

 

northwest

Nummer

 

Nr.

 

number

Ober-

 

O.

 

higher

Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres

 

OB d.H

 

 

Oberbürgermeister

 

 

 

Lord Mayor of a large town or city.

Oberkommando des Heeres

 

OKH

 

High Command of the Army

Oberkommando der Marine

 

OKM

 

German Navy High Command

Oberkommando der Wehrmacht

 

OKW

 

High Command of the Armed Forces (Hitler was supreme commander, while GFM Wilhelm Keitel headed OKW)

Oberpräsident

 

 

 

Senior administrative official in a Prussian province.

Oberpräsident

 

OPräs.; OPrs.

 

Chief Administrator and government executive of a Prussian Province

Oberregierungsrat

 

ORR

 

Senior government counsellor of the civil service; approximately equivalent to a Lt.-Col.

Oberschlesien

 

O.S.; OS.

 

Prussian Province of Upper Silesia

Oberste SA Führer

 

 

 

Supreme SA Leader (Hitler from 1930)

Oberstes Parteigericht

 

 

 

Supreme NSDAP Court (under Reichsleiter Walter Buch)

Offizier

 

Off.; Offz.

 

officer

Ordnungspolizei

 

Orpo

 

"Order police". Regular unformed police force of the Reich, consisting of the Schutzpolizei, Gendarmerie, and Feuerschutzpolzie as well as various technical and auxiliary services (such as the Technische Nothilfe [TeNo]

Organisation Todt

 

Org. Todt; OT

 

Semi-military government construction force, established 1933 under Dr.-Inf. Fritz Todt, responsible for bulding strategic highways and military installations/fortifications. Controlled by Todt's successor, Albert Speer, after Todt's death in February 1942.

Ortsgruppenleiter

 

 

 

NSDAP official in charge of one or more parts of a town; subordinate to a Kreisleiter.

Ortsgruppenleiter

 

 

 

NSDAP official responsible for one or several communes of a part of a town; subordinate to a Kreisleiter.

Osten

 

O

 

east

Ostindustrie GmbH

 

Osti

 

Eastern Industries Ltd.; SS concern formed with primary purpose of exploiting Jewish labor in Poland.

Ostpreußen

 

Ostpr.

 

Prussian Province of East Prussia

Panzer

 

Pz.

 

Armor; tank

Parteikanzlei

 

 

 

Hitler's chancellery as leader of the NSDAP. Headed by Reichsleiter and SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Martin Borman.

Personalhauptamt

 

SS-PHA

 

Main personnel office of the SS, responsible for records of all SS officers.

Politische Bereitschaft

 

 

 

Political alarm squad. Forerunner units of the SS-Verfügungstruppe.

Polizeipräsident

 

Pol.Präs.

 

Police President. Head of the regular police in a large city.

Polizeiverwaltung

 

PV

 

Police administration

Polizeiverwaltungsgesetz

 

PVG

 

Police Administration Law

Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt

 

RuSHA

 

SS Race & Settlement Main Office, responsible for racial purity of the SS and settlement of SS colonists in occupied eastern territories.

Referat

 

 

 

A sub-section or "desk" within a Gruppe.

Referent

 

 

 

Official in charge of a Referat.

Regierungsbezirk

 

Reg.Bez.

 

Sub-division of a Prussian province. Also, an administrative district of Bavaria.

Regierungsdirektor

 

Reg.Präs.

 

Rank of administrative official in a regional government, approximately equal with that of Colonel.

Regierungspräsident

 

Reg.Präs.

 

Senior government official in a Regierungsbezirk.

Regierungsrat

 

RegRat.; RR.

 

Government counsellor. Lowest rank in the higher civil service; approximately equivalent to the rank of Major.

Reichsarbeitsdienst

 

RAD

 

Reich Labor Service, headed by the Reichsarbeitsfuhrer, Reichsminister Konstantin Hierl (1875 - 1955)

Reichsarbeitsministerium

 

RAM

 

Reich Labor Ministry.

Reichsbevollmächtigter

 

 

 

Reich Plenipotentiary controlling the civil affairs of an occupied country (e.g.- SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Dr. jur. Karl Werner Best in Denmark).

Reichsfinanzministerium

 

RFM

 

Reich Finance Ministry.

Reichsführer-SS und Chef der Deutschen Polizei

 

RF SS u. Chef d. Dtsch.Pol.

 

"Reich SS Leader and Chief of the German Police"; Heinrich Himmler's title from Jun. 1936.

Reichsführung-SS

 

 

 

Supreme command of the SS, comprising the Persönlicher Stab RfSS and the Hauptämter

Reichsgau

 

 

 

One of eleven regions formed from territories annexed from Poland and Austria in 1938 and 1939

Reichsgesetzblatt

 

RGB

 

Official legal gazette issued in two parts by the Reichsministerium des Inner. Part I concerned current legislation; Part 2 dealt with international treaties, etc.

Reichskommissar für die Festigung Deutschen Volkstums

 

RDFDV

 

Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism Title given to Heinrich Himmler in 1939 entrusting him with the repatriation of Volksdeutsche ("racial Germans") and the settlement of German colonies in the East. A Stabshautamt RKFDV was established under SS-Ogruf. Ulrich Greifelt to put Himmler's plans for Germanic mastery into effect.

Reichskommissariat für die Ostland

 

 

 

German civil administration in the Baltic States ( Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) and White Russia ( Byelorussia), 1941 - 1945. Reichskommissar Ostland, with HQ in Riga, was Gauleiter Hinrich Lohse.

Reichskriminalpolizeiamt

 

RKPA

 

The headquarters of the Kriminalpolizei (Amt V of the RSHA), headed by SS-Gruppenfuhrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei Arthur Nebe.

Reichsleiter

 

RL

 

The highest rank in the NSDAP hierarchy.

Reichsluftschutzbund

 

RLB

 

The Reich Air Raid Protection League.

Reichsministerium für die besetzten Ostgebiete

 

Ostministerium

 

Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories. Reichsminister (1941 - 45): Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenberg; Staatssekretär (1941 - 45): Gauleiter Dr. Alfred Meyer.

Reichsministerium des Innern

 

RMdI.

 

Reich Ministry of the Interior
Reichsminister: Dr.jur. Wilhelm Frick (1933 - 1943)
Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler (1943 - 1945)

Reichssicherheitshauptamt

 

RSHA

 

Reich Security Main Office

Reichsstrafgesetzbuch

 

RStGB

 

Reich Penal Code

Reichstag

 

 

 

The German Parliament. Largely a figurehead body after its legislative powers were taken away and granted to the Reich Government by way of Hitler's "Enabling Act" of 24. March 1933.

Reichsstatthalter

 

Rsth.

 

Reich Governor; Hitler's representative in a German Land or Reichsgau.

Reichswehr

 

RW

 

The armed forces of Germany from 1919 until the enactment of the Wehrgesetz (Defense Law) of 21. May 1935; on that date, its title was changed to Wehrmacht.

Sachbearbeiter

 

 

 

Officer or official responsible for a specific matter.

Sanitätsdienst

 

 

 

Medical service

Schutzmannschaften<

 

Schuma

 

Auxiliary police units composed of foreign elements and Volksdeutsche; the first Schuma unit was set up in the Ukraine in Aug. 1941.

Schutzpolizei

 

Schupo; Schp.

 

Protection Police. The regular uniformed municipal and country police forces, comprising most of the membership of the Ordnungspolizei.

Schutzstaffel

 

SS

 

lit. Protection or Guard Detachment. Established in 1925 from the Stoßtrupp Adolf Hitler, the SS became, under Heinrich Himmler, the most powerful organization in the Third Reich.

Selbstschutz

 

 

 

1) A German nationalist self-prtotection organization formed in Silesia in 1920; 2) A self protection militia recruited from the Volksdeutsche in Poland by the SS; 3) Self-Protection Service, an element of the Luftschutzdienst composed of air raid wardens and other nonmilitary air raid protection personnel

Sicherheitsdienst des RfSS

 

SD

 

The SS Security Service established by Reinhard Heydrich in 1931 as the intelligence organization of the Nazi Party.

Sicherheitspolizei

 

Sipo

 

Security Police, composed of the Gestapo and Kripo.

Sicherheits- und Hilfsdienst

 

SHD

 

Security and Assistance Service, an auxiliary police unit responsible for air raid-related tasks. Superseded by the Luftschutzpolizei, 1942.

Sicherheitsverwahrung

 

 

 

Protective detention

Sigrunen

 

 

 

The runic double "S" insignia of the Schutzstaffel.

Sonderbehandlung

 

 

 

lit. special treatment. Nazi euphemism for killing those in detention.

Sonderkommando

 

Skdo.

 

 

SS und Polizeiführer

 

SS-u.Pol.F.; SSPF

 

SS and Police Commander in the eastern occupied territories, subordinate to the HSSPF.

Staatssekretär

 

Sta.Sek.

 

State Secretary in a Reich or Land Government Ministry.

Stab

 

St.

 

staff

Stabschef

 

 

 

Chief of Staff of the SA.

Stabsführer

 

 

 

Chief of Staff [e.g., to the Führer of an SS-Oberabschnitt].

Stadthauptmann

 

 

 

Senior administrative official in a Stadthauptmannschaft, a subdivision of a district in the Generalgouvernment (occupied Poland).

Standortführer

 

 

 

Garrison commander

Stellvertreter

 

Stellv.

 

Deputy

Sturmabteilungen

 

SA

 

The Stormtroops; the original defense formations of the NSDAP, founded in 1921. Purged in Jun./Jul. 1934 when it became too radical and unwieldly for Hitler's tastes, prompting him to wipe out most of its leadership, including SA-Stabschef Ernst Röhm. The purge of the SA was carried out by Himmler's SS, initially a subunit of the SA, and in its wake the SS gained considerable power.

Technische Nothilfe

 

TeNo; TN

 

Technical Emergency Corps, established in 1919. Auxiliary force of the Ordnungspolizei consisting of engineers, technicians, and specialists involved with construction work, communications, salvage, public utilities, etc. Led by SS-Gruppenfuhrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei Hans Weinreich from Jun. 1937 to Jun. 1943, then by SS-Gruppenfuhrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei Dipl.Ing. Willy Schmelcher from 15. Oct. 1943 to May 1945

Teilkommando

 

 

 

A sub-unit; Smallest element of an Einsatzgruppe of the Sipo and SD.

Totenkopfverbände

 

 

 

Death's Head units, employed in the concentration camps as guards. Formed the nucleus of the SS-Totenkopf-Division when it was formed in October 1939.

Trupp

 

Tr.

 

Squad or detail. An SA (and in its early years, SS) unit equivalent to a platoon.

Truppenübungsplatz

 

 

 

Troop training area.

Untersuchung

 

 

 

Investigation; interrogation

Umwandererzentralstelle

 

 

 

Central Transfer Office concerned with resettlement of Polish deportees from the Wartheland. An element of the RKFDV.

Unterführer

 

 

 

Non-commissioned officer.

Verband

 

Verb.

 

A formation or unit.

Verbindungsoffizier

 

 

 

Liaison officer

Vernichtungslager

 

 

 

Extermination camp.

Verordnung

 

 

 

Decree; regulation; order

Vertrauensmann

 

 

 

Intelligence agent or informer.

Verwaltung

 

Verw.

 

Administration

Verwaltungspolizei

 

 

 

Administrative branch of the Ordnungspolizei and Sicherheitspolizei

Volksbund fur das Deutschtum im Ausland

 

VDA

 

The League for Germans Abroad. Pre-Nazi organization concerned with activities of the Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans). Taken over by the NSDAP, 1930 and eventually absorbed by the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle under SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz.

Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle

 

VoMi

 

Ethnic German Assistance Office. Established as the Buro von Kursell, 1936 and renamed in 1937. Led by SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz, it obtained the status of a Hauptamt of the SS in 1941.

Volksgruppe

 

 

 

An ethnic group

Volkskartei

 

 

 

National Register kept by the Verwaltungspolizei. Introduced in 1939 to facilitate conscription of men and women for the Wehrmacht, Reichsarbeitsdienst, etc.

Volkstum

 

 

 

nationality

Vorbeugungshaft

 

 

 

Preventive arrest

Vorschrift

 

 

 

Regulation(s), instruction(s), or a manual

Waffen-SS

 

W-SS

 

Fully militarized combat formations of the SS

Wehrdienstpflicht

 

 

 

Obligation to serve in the Wehrmacht

Wehrkreis

 

Wkr.

 

A Military District.

Wehrmacht

 

WH; Wehrm.

 

The armed forces, consisting of the German Army (Heer), Navy (Kriegsmarine), and Air Force (Luftwaffe)

Wehrmachtbefelshaber

 

 

 

Senior Armed Forces commander in an occupied territory.

Wehrmachtfuhrungsstab

 

 

 

Armed Forces Operations Staff, headed by Generaloberst Alfred Jodl.

Wehrwirtschaft

 

 

 

Military or war economy

Wehrwirtschaftsamt

 

 

 

War Economics Directorate of OKW.

Weisung

 

 

 

directive

zur besonderer Verwendung

 

z.b.V.

 

for special employment

Zellenleiter

 

 

 

Cell leader. An NSDAP official responsible for four to five blocks of households; subordinate to an Ortsgruppenleiter.

Zollgrenzdienst

 

 

 

Border Customs Service

Zollgrenzschutz

 

 

 

Border Customs Protection Service. Controlled by the Sicherheitspolizei, with personnel from the Customs Service.

 

 

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