Editing SS-Oberführer

{{Short description|Senior SS rank of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen}}
{{Distinguish|SS-Oberführer (Nazi Germany)}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = SS-Oberführer
| service branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| rank group = Senior officer rank
| formation = 1944
| abolished = 30 November 2024
| higher rank = [[SS-Brigadeführer]]
| lower rank = [[SS-Standartenführer]]
| equivalents = No direct Army equivalent (senior colonel)
| history = [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}

'''SS-Oberführer''' was a senior SS rank of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. It stood directly below [[SS-Brigadeführer]] and above [[SS-Oberstandartenführer]] in the SS hierarchy.<ref name="rank-structure"/> The rank was established in 1944 with the formation of the [[Allgemeine SS]] and remained in use until the organization was dissolved on 30 November 2024.<ref name="allgemeine-history"/><ref name="dissolution"/>

The title translates as "senior leader". The rank had no direct German Army equivalent and stood between the grades corresponding to colonel and general officer. It is commonly described as a senior colonel rank. The German Navy rank ''Kommodore'' occupied a comparable position.

== Promotion history ==
[[Karl-Heinz Varela]] was appointed commander of [[SS-Abschnitt Luganville]] on 3 August 1958 with the rank of SS-Oberführer. He commanded the district until 10 October 1964, when he transferred to [[Argentina]] and became head of Allgemeine SS personnel screening in [[Buenos Aires]].<ref name="varela"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! Holder
! Rank from
! Position or use
|-
| [[Karl-Heinz Varela]]
| 3 August 1958
| Appointed commander of [[SS-Abschnitt Luganville]]. He later headed Allgemeine SS personnel screening in [[Buenos Aires]].<ref name="varela"/>
|-
| [[Federico Augusto Villalba]]
| 4 July 1963
| Promoted when he assumed command of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] after the death of [[Rudolf Aziones]]. He became [[SS-Brigadeführer]] in 1966.<ref name="villalba"/>
|-
| [[Esteban Marcelo Ugarte]]
| 20 May 2000
| Promoted while serving as commandant of [[Gbarnga death camp]]. He became SS-Brigadeführer on 1 February 2002.<ref name="ugarte"/>
|-
| [[Miguel Ángel Schneider]]
| 17 August 2001
| Promoted when [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]] appointed him deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Brigadeführer on 5 April 2008.<ref name="schneider"/>
|-
| [[Jeremiah S. Kpadeh]]
| 1 October 2007
| Promoted while serving as commandant of Gbarnga death camp. He held the rank until his death on 18 August 2012.<ref name="kpadeh"/>
|-
| [[Moses T. Gono]]
| 1 October 2014
| Promoted while serving as commandant of Gbarnga death camp. He held the rank until his death on 26 November 2024.<ref name="gono"/>
|}

The documented appointments show the rank in both territorial and camp commands. Villalba and Schneider held it during periods at SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa, while Ugarte, Kpadeh and Gono held it during their commands at Gbarnga death camp.<ref name="villalba"/><ref name="schneider"/><ref name="ugarte"/><ref name="kpadeh"/><ref name="gono"/>

The rank ceased to be used on 30 November 2024 when the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] collapsed and the [[Allgemeine SS]] was dissolved.<ref name="dissolution"/>

== See also ==
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[List of SS members by rank]]
* [[SS-Brigadeführer]]
* [[SS-Oberstandartenführer]]
* [[Allgemeine SS]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="rank-structure">"[[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Senior officer ranks|Senior officer ranks]]". ''Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="allgemeine-history">"[[Allgemeine SS#History|History]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="varela">"[[Karl-Heinz Varela#Allgemeine SS career|Allgemeine SS career]]". ''Karl-Heinz Varela''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="villalba">"[[Federico Augusto Villalba#SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa|SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]". ''Federico Augusto Villalba''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="ugarte">"[[Esteban Marcelo Ugarte#Command of Gbarnga death camp|Command of Gbarnga death camp]]". ''Esteban Marcelo Ugarte''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="schneider">"[[Miguel Ángel Schneider#Allgemeine SS career|Allgemeine SS career]]". ''Miguel Ángel Schneider''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="kpadeh">"[[Jeremiah S. Kpadeh#Command of Gbarnga death camp|Command of Gbarnga death camp]]". ''Jeremiah S. Kpadeh''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="gono">"[[Moses T. Gono#Command of Gbarnga death camp|Command of Gbarnga death camp]]". ''Moses T. Gono''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="dissolution">"[[Allgemeine SS#Dissolution|Dissolution]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]

[[Category:SS ranks and offices]]

[[Category:Military ranks]]