| Original caption: “Leadership Class – Group Portrait with Hitler Standing in the Center – Reichsführer School.” Graduates of the Nazi Party’s instructional courses at the Reichsführerschule der SA in Munich, Germany: 8.Lehrgang / 1.SS-Kurus der Reichsführerschule; VIII. Lehrgang a der Reichsführer-Schule in München / 1.SS-Lehrgang (“Leadership class/course Number 8 / SS course Number 1”), held from January 31, 1932, to February 20, 1932. Briennerstrasse Number 44, the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP (“National Socialist German Workers’ Party”) Headquarters. The 1st Leadership school of the Sturmabteilung (Reichsführerschule der SA), established in Munich on June 15, 1931, aimed to provide comprehensive training for SA leaders. Led by SA-Gruppenführer Kurt Kühme, the institution focused on ideological education and offered a 4-week program funded by the Reich leadership. Instructors included prominent NSDAP members who taught various aspects of organization, practice, and law. The school also incorporated sports activities and organized trips, even reaching Italy. SA-Standartenführer Theo Berkelmann served as Kühme’s deputy. Located at Briennerstraße 44, Munich, the school faced temporary closure in April 1932 due to an emergency decree but later resumed operations. The leader of the Reichsführerschule held significant authority over both the SA and the SS within the Supreme SA Command. Depicted persons include: Group portrait of the participants of the 1st SS (Schutzstaffel) course at the “leadership school” of the Sturmabteilung (Reichsführerschule der SA), the paramilitary “brownshirts”, a school for leaders and officers (Führer und Politischer Leiter) of the “Hitler movement” (Hitler-Bewegung).SA-Gruppenführer Richard Aster (March 11, 1900 – May 6, 1945) Führer, SA-Brigade 17, Upper Silesia, September 15, 1934 – January 31, 1942. Führer Silesia SA-Gruppe from February 1, 1942, to his death. Involved in the fighting in Fortress Breslau in May 1945; killed in a minefield on May 6. SS-Offizier Adolf Ax (June 23, 1906 – February 6, 1983) Ax held a number of small SS combat posts before taking command of the 15th Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Latvian Number 1) on January 26, 1945. On April 5, he was appointed as Führer of the 32nd SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “January 30” but was captured 2 days later. He was released on May 8, 1948. SS-Offizier Kurt Benson (October 13, 1902 – September 9, 1942) Benson took over SS Section IV in Hanover on June 30, 1935. After Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938, Benson organized SS destruction operations against Jewish institutions in Hanover and gave the order to destroy the synagogue on Lappenberg Street in Hildesheim. He fell in the Battle of Lake Ilmen in 1942. SS-Standartenführer Heinz Bock (February 12, 1905 – May, 1945) Bock joined the SS in 1930, and became a professional SS Officer in 1935. He completed Officer training schools in 1937 and 1938, and was Führer of the 59th SS-Standarte “Loeper” from July 1, 1938, to May 1945 as a largely ceremonial position. He moved in the Waffen-SS, the combat arm, in March 1941, and saw action on the Eastern Front. In January 1942 was diagnosed with tuberculosis and sent home for medical treatment for 2 years. In 1944, he was detailed to SS-Oberabschnitt Alpenland under Erwin Rösener. SS-Sturmbannführer Erich Darré (August 9, 1902 – 1946) Darré was Managing and Publishing Director of Reichsnährstand Verlags GmbH (“Reich Nutrition Stand Publishers Limited”) in Berlin and Blut und Boden Verlag GmbH (“Blood and Soil Publishers Limited”) in Goslar. He appeared as a witness at the Nuremberg Trials. SS-Offizier Friedrich Dernehl (November 28, 1907 – ????) Dernehl was a relatively early convert to the Schultzstaffel. He joined the SS on November 9, 1928. He was appointed a liaison officer of the 33rd SS Standarte to the Hessian Police on November 11, 1933, not long after Hitler seized power. As a resident of Frankenstein, Silesia, Dernehl spent most of his combat career on the Eastern Front. The Nazi regime awarded him several awards: Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Silver Wound Badge, Infantry Assault Badge, SS Skull Ring, and Honorary Sword of the SS-Reichsführer. After the war, he ran for Darmstadt city council in 1952 and 1956. He ran on the Darmstadt FDP, a constitutional party, platform. There is no evidence of his Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or NSDAP (Nazi Party) records in the Hessian State Archives. Journalist Adolf Egeberg Jr. (September 30, 1909 – June 22, 1972) Egeberg was a Norwegian journalist and national socialist. He worked as a correspondent for Nationen in Germany circa 1930, and he took courses in the SA in Munich, and SS in Berlin. He was involved in the short-lived Norwegian fascist party National Legion in 1927-28, before he founded the National Socialist Workers’ Party of Norway (NNSAP) in 1930, modeled on the German Nazi Party (NSDAP). SS-Offizier Walter Haut (August 20, 1901 – ????) Promoted to SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer on January 30, 1939. SS-Standartenführer Wilhelm Hiller (April 3, 1906 – November 28, 1941) Promoted to SS-Standartenführer September 15, 1935. Detailed to Militärforstbetrieb SS Artilleriebataillon XXI (“Military Forestry Division SS Artillery Battalion XXI”) July 1, 1939 – November 28, 1941. Killed in action at Taganrod, November 28, 1941. SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler (October 7, 1900 – May 23, 1945) Himmler was the Reichsführer (Reich Leader) of the dreaded SS of the Nazi Party from 1929 until 1945. Himmler presided over a vast ideological and bureaucratic empire that defined him for many-both inside and outside the 3rd Reich-as the 2nd most powerful man after Adolf Hitler in Germany during the 3rd Reich. Given overall responsibility for the security of the Nazi empire, Himmler was the key and senior Nazi official responsible for conceiving and overseeing implementation of the “Final Solution,” the Nazi plan to murder the Jews of Europe. Führer Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) Führer Adolf Hitler was the undisputed leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party-known as Nazis-since 1921. In 1923, he was arrested and imprisoned for trying to overthrow the German government. His trial brought him fame and followers. He used the subsequent jail time to dictate his political ideas in a book, Mein Kampf-My Struggle. Hitler’s ideological goals included territorial expansion, consolidation of a racially pure state, and elimination of the European Jews and other perceived enemies of Germany. SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Jahnke (March 7, 1883 – June 24, 1936) On April 1, 1933, Jahnke orders SA and SS on behalf of the Royal Mayor of Kiel to destroy Schumm’s furniture shop after owner’s son, lawyer Friedrich Schumm (1901-1933), shot SS-Rottenführer Wilhelm Asthalter (December 15, 1910 – 1982). Jahnke and others carried out lynching of Schumm while he was in custody. Father and owner Schumm ordered to pay 25,000 marks. SS-Sturmbannführer Jahnke’s Supplementary Office was the command of 4th SS-Standarte Schleswig-Holstein from June 10, 1933, to February 1, 1934. Promoted to SS-Standartenführer on March 12, 1934. He commanded 3. SS-Reiterstandarte from August 1934 to January 25, 1936. Killed by a lightning strike in 1936. SS-Standartenführer Georg Kaethner (1900 – ????) Promoted to SS-Sturmhauptführer on June 12, 1933. SS-Sturmbannführer in I./Sturmbann (1. – 4. Sturm) in 75. SS-Standarte (“First Assault Unit in Squads 1-4 in the 75th SS-Standard.”) in 1934. Promoted to SS-Standartenführer on January 30, 1936. Expelled from th SS on April 25, 1937. SA-Gruppenführer Fritz Katzmann (May 6, 1906 – September 19, 1957) As SS-Brigadeführer Katzmann deported 434,329 Jews from Galicia by June 27, 1943. He hid his identity and died in obscurity. SA-Obergruppenführer Kurt Kühme (August 27, 1885 – December 25, 1944) Headed the SA Reichsführerschule in Munich. Inspector of the SA Pioneers, February 1, 1942 – December 25, 1944. On October 9, 1944, Kühme was awarded the German Cross in Gold. Assigned to Army Group Center, he held a number of divisional commands until he was killed in action. SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Ludwig (March 28, 1902 – April 2, 1989) Ludwig was the Bremen Police Chief from April 20, 1938, to August 1, 1941, with time off for combat in early 1940. He served with various SS commands during the war and was a construction worker afterwards. SS-Brigadeführer Walter Opländer (February 27, 1906 – ????) Promoted to SS-Sturmführer January 15, 1932. Promoted to S-Sturmhauptführer on August 24, 1932. Promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer April 20, 1933, on the occasion of Hitler’s birthday. Lost his SS Badge on December 12, 1936 and warned against misuse by Berlin. On August 1, 1939, he was appointed an SS Elder. On January 30, 1943, the 10th anniversary of the 3rd Reich, Opländer is promoted to SS-Brigadeführer. Promoted to Oberführer on March 1, 1943. SS-Brigadeführer Hans Plesch (February 26, 1905 – May 17, 1985) Plesch fought on the Eastern Front, earning the Iron Cross on March 21, 1942. He was Munich Police Chief from April 7, 1943 to April 30, 1945. He claimed to be a member of the Bavarian Freedom Campaign, but none of the participants could confirm this. SS-Standartenführer Wilhelm Reck (March 19, 1888 – ????) SS-Standartenführer Wilhelm Reck commanded 6. SS-Standarte from November 16, 1933, to January 1, 1935, a prestigious unit in Berlin. SS leader at the SS Personnel Main Office, June 1, 1939 – June 1, 1941. SS leader at the staff of the SS main office, June 1, 1941 – August 1, 1944. SS leader at the staff of SS Section III, August 1, 1944 – 1945. SS-Obergruppenführer Erwin Rösener (February 2, 1902 – September 4, 1946) Rösener was Police Chief of “Alpenland” (Salzburg, Austria and surrounding areas) from 1941 to the end of the war. He deployed to Slovenia to combat partisans, ordering the killing of civilians, hostages and prisoners of war. Sentenced to death on August 30, 1946, Rösener was hanged on September 4, 1946. SS-Standartenführer Norbert Scharf (January 7, 1901 – January 23, 1945) March – May 1934, Sharf was the Commander of the Guard Batallion at Konsentrationslager Dachau. From 1940 till 1941 he was Schutzhaftlagerführer (“Protective Custody Camp Leader”) at Buchenwald. Served with combat units from 1941 – 1945. Killed in Action in early 1945. SS-Offizier Helmut Schöne (1905 – ????) Acting Stabsführer of SS-Abschnitt IV (Braunschweig Regional Command) from October 12, 1933, then officially assumed command. Helmut Schöne was brought before an SS-Court charged with habitual drunkenness and the misuse of service transport. Found guilty he was demoted in rank to SS-Stumbannführer July 1, 1939, with seniority from July 7, 1939. Journalist Poul Sommer (October 13, 1910 – 1991) In 1932 Sommer published an anti-marxist leaflet, Under Hagekors (“Under the Swastika”), and the following 2 years he is editor of the newspaper Kampen (“The Fight”) that promotes National Socialist ideas. Fights in the Winter War for Finland. Joins the Luftwaffe July 8, 1941. Posted to Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG27) “Afrika” on September 20, 1942. Shoots down 2 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft in North Africa. In Spring 1943, Sommer and JG27 are posted to Sicily; he shoots down an RAF Spitfire. Earns Iron Cross 1st and 2nd classes. Returns to Denmark in September 1943, and organizes Danish SS units. Attempted assassination August 15, 1944 in Copenhagen. Discharged May 25, 1945. Arrested while living under an assumed name in July 1946. Sentenced after an appeal in 1949 to 12 years in prison. Pardoned before his sentence is complete, he made his living as a businessman. SS-Brigadeführer Karl Taus (September 24, 1893 – November 19, 1977) On March 21, 1938, Taus was assigned to the Concentration Camps Inspectorate under SS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke. It was intended that he would train for a position as a concentration camp commandant but, after undergoing training and evaluations at Dachau and Buchenwald, it was concluded that he lacked the severity for such a posting, and he was never given a camp command. Taus was then assigned as the SS and Police Leader in Görz. the German hold on the region was fiercely contested by Italian and Slovene partisans. Captured partisans were executed in the inner courtyard of Gorizia Castle. He held this command until May 8, 1945. SS-Offizier Robert Wagner (October 13, 1895 – August 14, 1946) Reich Governor and Gauleiter of Baden. Head of the civil administration in occupied Alsace. He was jointly responsible for the mass deportation of Jews from Alsace, Lorraine, Baden and the Palatinate known as the Wagner-Bürckel campaign. In 1946, he was sentenced to death and executed by a French military court. SS-Obersturmbannführer Hermann Weinrich (May 20, 1902 – ????) Weinrich served in a variety of SS commands. In 1934, he was an adjutant staffer with 67. SS-Standarte; he roseto command the unit by 1935. He was with 2. SS-Standarte in 1944. Since he knew Himmler and Wolff from this training conference, he wrote them in 1940 as a Corporal from the Eastern Front. Weinrich was a theist non-Christian; when he refused to go to Christian services, he was threatened with disciplinary action. He wanted to know – did Himmler, through his adjutant Wolff, think he had to follow such an order? But Himmler did not wish to antagonize the conservative Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) that mistrusted non-practicing men as Communists. He passed the dilemma to Wolff, who asked Major Radke of the General Staff to look into it. “Do not let this unfortunate man be slaughtered.” Wolff instructed. SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff (May 13, 1900 – July 15, 1984) Head of the “Reichsführer SS personal staff” and “SS liaison officer to Hitler.” Wolff arranged the necessary trains to the extermination camps. Responsible for the arrest of 1,259 Jews in the Rome Ghetto on October 16, 1943. On September 30, 1964, he was sentenced by the Munich II Regional Court to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting murder in at least 300,000 cases (deportations to the Treblinka extermination camp). In 1969, he was released due to incapacity.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii2106.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.70 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4809 x 3150 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 15, 1932 |
| Location | |
| City | Munich |
| State or Province | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 242-HF-0074 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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