{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-nsdap-ortsgruppe-politisches-leiter-anwarter-unissued-armband-with-rzm-tag-local-political-group-leader-candidate","title":"Original German WWII NSDAP Ortsgruppe Politisches Leiter Anwärter Unissued Armband With RZM Tag - Local Political Group Leader Candidate","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Ortsgruppenleiter (Local Group Leader) was a NSDAP 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 NSDAP member of a town or city, or in larger cities, of a neighborhood, for the purposes of election district organization. After 1933, through the process of Gleichschaltung, the position of Ortsgruppenleiter evolved into the NSDAP leader of a large town or city or of a city district.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lovely armband is constructed of a red wool\/cotton blend cloth with a central black swas on a white rayon field, all bordered by yellow\/gold cotton thread. Light blue piping completes the outer edges. \u003cstrong\u003eTotal length is 21” with a width of 5”\u003c\/strong\u003e. The armband is in very good, unissued condition with a few expected moth nips.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inner side still features the original \u003cstrong\u003eRZM\u003c\/strong\u003e tag which is a complete example. The tag has a correct “\u003cstrong\u003eD\u003c\/strong\u003e” tax code and features a \u003cstrong\u003eRZM\u003c\/strong\u003e logo. The ink stamped numerical designation of the hersteller (manufacturer) is \u003cstrong\u003eA4\/343\u003c\/strong\u003e and has the lot \u003cstrong\u003eNo. 465260\u003c\/strong\u003e beneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lovely armband would pair nicely with a dagger! Comes ready to display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrts Role in Municipal Government\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the founding of NSDAP Germany, the political rank of Ortsgruppenleiter was held by the chief NSDAP member in a municipal area. In many situations, town and city administration overlapped with the NSDAP political system, meaning that the traditional local government was overshadowed, if not entirely replaced, by NSDAP leadership. Traditional government titles did continue to exist, such as Bürgermeister; however, if these positions were not already held by a corresponding NSDAP official, city government was little more than a rubber stamp to NSDAP designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring World War II, the position of Ortsgruppenleiter encompassed a large amount of responsibility and power as it was these NSDAP officials who typically ran the city civil defense systems as well as the allocation of war rations and civil relief efforts. As Germany was invaded and defeat became imminent, NSDAP leaders in major towns and cities also became ad hoc military commanders in charge of mixed-unit German forces and Volkssturm units.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 1930 and 1932, the political rank of Ortsgruppenleiter was denoted by a braided shoulder cord and a white collar bar worn on a NSDAP Party brown shirt. After 1933, the rank was denoted by two light yellow collar bars. The actual rank of Ortsgruppenleiter was phased out of the Party in 1939, replaced by a large number of expanded paramilitary political titles. The position of Ortsgruppenleiter was after this time typically held by a Party Member with the rank of Abschnittsleiter, paired as well with a political armband denoting the specific position of Ortsgruppenleiter.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40436590575685,"sku":"ONSV22MDN29","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV22MDN29__07.jpg?v=1669391214","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-nsdap-ortsgruppe-politisches-leiter-anwarter-unissued-armband-with-rzm-tag-local-political-group-leader-candidate","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}