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The German word ''Leiter'' means leader, whilst '' Gau '' was a region of the Reich, once ruled by a Frankish Gaugraf; it translates most closely to the English Shire . The title of Gauleiter was first established in 1925 after the Nazi Party reorganized following the failed Beer Hall Putsch . By 1928, Gauleiter had also became a Nazi Paramilitary Rank , and would eventually become the second highest such position, ranking only below the rank of '' Reichsleiter ''. The insignia for the rank of Gauleiter consisted of two oak leaves worn on a brown colored collar patch. Until 1938, a junior rank to Gauleiter also existed, which was known as ''Stellvertreter-Gauleiter'' 'Proxy-Gauleiter'. A Proxy-Gauleiter wore a single oak leaf, similar to a Gauleiter, however this position was abolished by the start of World War II . In theory, a Gauleiter was merely a representative of the Nazi Party who served to coordinate regional Nazi party events and also served to "advise" the local government. In practice, Gauleiters were the unquestioned rulers of their particular areas of responsibility. The legal governmental establishment merely existed as a Rubber Stamp for the Gauleiter. The Gauleiter was the highest ranking political leader at the ''Gau'' level of political administration within the Reich, with the ''Reich'' (National) level the highest, ''Gau'' (Shire / Prefecture / Province) second highest, ''Kreis'' ('circle', i.e. District / County) third highest and ''Ort'' level (municipal) the lowest. There were two additional, lower local levels (''Block'' and ''Zelle'' '(party) cell'). Political leaders from the Ort level and higher wore official uniforms, with the piping and background color of the uniform collar tabs indicating the administrative level.
SEE ALSO SOURCES AND REFERENCES (incomplete)
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