Editing SS-Brigadeführer

{{Short description|Senior SS rank of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen}}
{{Distinguish|SS-Brigadeführer (Nazi Germany)}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = SS-Brigadeführer
| service branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| rank group = Senior officer rank
| formation = 1944
| abolished = 30 November 2024
| higher rank = [[SS-Gruppenführer]]
| lower rank = [[SS-Oberführer]]
| equivalents = ''Generalmajor'' (approximately Brigadier General)
| history = [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}

'''SS-Brigadeführer''' was a senior SS rank of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. It stood directly below [[SS-Gruppenführer]] and above [[SS-Oberführer]] 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 rank corresponded to the German Army rank ''Generalmajor''. In the German military hierarchy this was the lowest general officer grade, approximately equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Brigadier General in the United States Army.

== Promotion history ==
[[Héctor Germán Reinoso]] was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer in 1953 while commanding [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]. He remained commander until 3 August 1958, when he was promoted to [[SS-Obergruppenführer]] and transferred to [[Georgetown]] as Chef des Stabes der Reichsführung-SS.<ref name="reinoso"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! Holder
! Rank from
! Position or use
|-
| [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]]
| 1953
| Promoted while serving as commander of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]. He became [[SS-Obergruppenführer]] on 3 August 1958.<ref name="reinoso"/>
|-
| [[Rudolf Aziones]]
| 1 July 1955
| Promoted when he became deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became [[SS-Gruppenführer]] on 3 August 1958.<ref name="aziones"/>
|-
| [[Federico Augusto Villalba]]
| 1966
| Promoted while commanding SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Gruppenführer in 1974.<ref name="villalba"/>
|-
| [[Esteban Marcelo Ugarte]]
| 1 February 2002
| Promoted when he transferred to the headquarters of [[SS-Großabschnitt Afrika]] in [[Monrovia]] and became inspector of camps and forced labor.<ref name="ugarte"/>
|-
| [[Miguel Ángel Schneider]]
| 5 April 2008
| Promoted when he became permanent commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Gruppenführer on 18 April 2011.<ref name="schneider"/>
|-
| [[Matías Federico Kessler]]
| 1 December 2013
| Promoted when he succeeded Schneider as commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. He became SS-Gruppenführer on 17 December 2016.<ref name="kessler"/>
|}

The rank appeared repeatedly in the command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. Reinoso held it during his first period as commander. Aziones received it as Reinoso's deputy before succeeding him at the higher rank of SS-Gruppenführer. Villalba later received SS-Brigadeführer during his own command. Schneider and Kessler were both promoted to the rank when they became permanent commanders of the district.<ref name="osttanoa"/>

The rank was also used outside the territorial commands. Ugarte received it when he left direct command of [[Gbarnga death camp]] and became inspector of camps and forced labor for SS-Großabschnitt Afrika.<ref name="ugarte"/> The head of the [[Postschutz]], the Chef des Postschutzes, normally held the rank of SS-Brigadeführer.<ref name="postschutz"/>

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-Gruppenführer]]
* [[SS-Oberführer]]
* [[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="reinoso">"[[Héctor Germán Reinoso#SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa|SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]". ''Héctor Germán Reinoso''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="aziones">"[[Rudolf Aziones#Allgemeine SS career|Allgemeine SS career]]". ''Rudolf Aziones''. ''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#Inspector of camps and forced labor|Inspector of camps and forced labor]]". ''Esteban Marcelo Ugarte''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="schneider">"[[Miguel Ángel Schneider#Command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa|Command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]". ''Miguel Ángel Schneider''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="kessler">"[[Matías Federico Kessler#Commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa|Commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]". ''Matías Federico Kessler''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="osttanoa">"[[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa#History|History]]". ''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="postschutz">"[[Postschutz#Organization and personnel|Organization and personnel]]". ''Postschutz''. ''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]]