Reichsmarschall

Reichsmarschall. The rank of Reichsmarschall was the highest possible military rank within the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany, created specifically for Hermann Göring during the Second World War. It was established by decree of Adolf Hitler in 1940, elevating Göring above all other field marshals and granting him unique authority. The position was both a supreme military designation and a potent political symbol within the Third Reich's power structure, intended to designate an ultimate commander second only to the Führer.

History and creation

The rank was formally created on 19 July 1940, during the Reichstag session that followed the swift German invasion of France and the Armistice of 22 June 1940. This ceremony, where Hitler promoted twelve generals to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall, was also used to elevate Hermann Göring, who was already a Generalfeldmarschall and the commander of the Luftwaffe. The creation was a political reward for Göring's perceived leadership during the early victorious campaigns of the war, including the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. It solidified his position as Hitler's officially designated successor, a status previously outlined in a 1939 decree. The move was also seen as a counterbalance within the competitive hierarchy of the Nazi Party, placing Göring distinctly above other powerful figures like Heinrich Himmler of the SS and senior commanders of the Heer.

Rank insignia and uniform

The rank insignia were uniquely elaborate, designed to visually assert supreme authority over all other German military ranks. The shoulder boards featured a crossed Reichsmarschall baton and Iron Cross design on a gold-braided field, surpassing the standard two or three pips of a Generalfeldmarschall. Göring often wore a specially designed, opulent white uniform for ceremonial occasions, distinct from the standard field gray of the Wehrmacht. His personal heraldic symbol, which incorporated the Reichsmarschall batons, was used on his personal standard, vehicles, and at his estate, Carinhall. The ceremonial baton itself was a jeweled masterpiece, contrasting with the simpler design of the Generalfeldmarschall's baton, and was frequently used as a prop in propaganda imagery produced by the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.

Holders of the rank

The only person ever promoted to the rank was Hermann Göring. While the rank was theoretically possible to award to others, no further promotions were made before the collapse of Nazi Germany. Other senior Nazi leaders held high ranks in their respective organizations—such as Heinrich Himmler who held the title of Reichsführer-SS, and Karl Dönitz who was a Grand Admiral of the Kriegsmarine—but none equated to the unique, overarching authority of Reichsmarschall. In the final days of the war in April 1945, after Göring attempted to assume power from Hitler in the Führerbunker, he was stripped of all titles and arrested by the SS under orders from Martin Bormann.

Role and responsibilities

The role was largely symbolic and political, though it came with broad theoretical authority over the entire Wehrmacht. In practice, Göring's direct command remained primarily over the Luftwaffe, while operational control of the Heer rested with the OKW and the OKH. His responsibilities expanded to include oversight of major economic programs like the Four Year Plan, making him the de facto economic dictator of Germany for war production. He was also appointed as Hitler's successor, a role tested during the final Battle of Berlin. The rank granted him a permanent seat at major strategic conferences, such as those concerning the Invasion of the Soviet Union and the Battle of Stalingrad, though his influence waned significantly following the failures of the Luftwaffe.

Abolition and legacy

The rank was effectively abolished with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945 and the subsequent dissolution of the Wehrmacht by the Allied Control Council. Hermann Göring was tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials by the International Military Tribunal, where his former rank and titles were irrelevant to judicial proceedings. The rank is remembered historically as a unique artifact of the Third Reich's personalized and hierarchical power system, inextricably linked to Göring's rise and fall. It has never been reinstated in any successor German state, such as the Federal Republic of Germany or the German Democratic Republic, and remains a subject of study within the history of Nazi Germany and World War II militaria.

Category:Military ranks of Nazi Germany Category:World War II military ranks of Germany