''Zellenleiter'' (; "

Cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery ...

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 ''Blockleiter'' (Block Warden), where ''block'' refers to city block, was from 1933 the title of a lower Nazi Party political rank responsible for the political supervision of a neighborhood. Referred to in common parlance as ''Blockwart'', t ...

'' and was in charge of a " Nazi Cell", composed of eight to twelve city blocks.

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 Adolf Hitler's rise to power began in the newly established Weimar Republic in September 1919 when Hitler joined the '' Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' (DAP; German Workers' Party). He rose to a place of prominence in the early years of the party. Be ...

, the rank of ''Zellenwart'' was replaced by a new rank known as ''

Stellenleiter ''Stellenleiter'' (, "Area Leader") was a Nazi Party political rank which existed between 1933 and 1938. The rank was created as a mid-level political position intended to replace the older rank of ''Zellenwart'' ("cell guard"), also known as ...

''. 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 ''Ortsgruppenleiter'' (Local Group Leader) was a Nazi Party political rank and title which existed between 1930 and 1945. The term first came into being during the German elections of 1930, and was held by the head Nazi of a town or city, or in ...

'', 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 ''Bereitschaftsleiter'' (Readiness Leader) was a Nazi Party political rank which existed between 1939 and 1945. There were three levels of the rank, known as ''Bereitschaftsleiter'', ''Oberbereitschaftsleiter'', and ''Hauptbereitschaftsleiter''. ...

'' 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 (german: link=no, Weimarer Republik ), officially named the German Reich, was the government of Germany from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional federal republic for the first time in history; hence it is ...

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

strongman In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or similar circus performers who performed feats of strength. More recently, strength athletics, also known as strongman competitions, have grown in popularity. Thes ...

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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, 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 The (; "people's storm") was a levée en masse national militia established by Nazi Germany during the last months of World War II. It was not set up by the German Army, the ground component of the combined German ''Wehrmacht'' armed forces, b ...

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