Betriebsobmann
Encyclopedia
Betriebsobmann was a political position
of the Nazi Party which existed between the years 1939 and 1945. The term first came into being at the start of World War II
and was unique only to the local level of the Nazi Party, known as the Ortsgruppen.
, or literally "Workers' Representative", the duties of the Betreibsobmann were generally the same as a labor union foreman and focused primary on the local level of war production as well as representing the interests of factory
workers. Later, as the war progressed, the Betriebsobmann were in charge of production quota
s and often would report workers who were not meeting standards. War defeatism and anti-Nazi sympathies were also immediately reported.
In addition to the primary rank of Betreibsobmann, a junior rank of Betriebsblockobmann existed as an assistant to the local Blockleiter
. There was also a "Cell Operations Foreman" position, known as Betriebszellenobmann as well as a senior foreman position known as Hauptbetriebsobmann. In all, the following were the various levels of seniority:
The position of Betriebsobmann was not an actual political rank, but rather a title. Those Nazi Party members holding the position of Betreibsobmann also would hold one of several Nazi Party paramilitary ranks. The position of Betriebsobmann would be denoted by a political armband.
Ranks and insignia of the Nazi Party
Ranks and insignia of the Nazi Party were paramilitary titles used by the National Socialist German Workers Party between approximately 1928 and the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945...
of the Nazi Party which existed between the years 1939 and 1945. The term first came into being at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was unique only to the local level of the Nazi Party, known as the Ortsgruppen.
Duties
Translated as Shop StewardUnion steward
A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company, who represents and defends the interests of her/his fellow employees but who is also a labor union official...
, or literally "Workers' Representative", the duties of the Betreibsobmann were generally the same as a labor union foreman and focused primary on the local level of war production as well as representing the interests of factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
workers. Later, as the war progressed, the Betriebsobmann were in charge of production quota
Quota
-Commerce:* Import quota, a type of trade restriction* Production quota* Sales quota, a minimum sales goal for a set time span* Tariff-rate quota, a type of trade restriction-Electoral systems:* Droop quota* Election threshold* Hagenbach-Bischoff quota...
s and often would report workers who were not meeting standards. War defeatism and anti-Nazi sympathies were also immediately reported.
Seniority
Betriebsobmann was divided into four levels of seniority, denoted by a letter placed after the title ranging from (A), (B), (C), and (D).In addition to the primary rank of Betreibsobmann, a junior rank of Betriebsblockobmann existed as an assistant to the local Blockleiter
Blockleiter
Blockleiter was a Nazi Party political rank which existed between the years of 1930 and 1945. The Blockleiter was the lowest political official of the NSDAP, responsible for the political supervision of a neighborhood or city block and formed the link between the NSDAP and the general...
. There was also a "Cell Operations Foreman" position, known as Betriebszellenobmann as well as a senior foreman position known as Hauptbetriebsobmann. In all, the following were the various levels of seniority:
- Betriebsblockobmann
- Betriebsobmann (A)
- Betriebszellenobmann
- Hauptbetriebszellenobmann
- Betriebsobmann (B)
- Betriebsobmann (C)
- Betriebsobmann (D)
- Hauptbetriebsobman
The position of Betriebsobmann was not an actual political rank, but rather a title. Those Nazi Party members holding the position of Betreibsobmann also would hold one of several Nazi Party paramilitary ranks. The position of Betriebsobmann would be denoted by a political armband.