Bannführer

Bannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Hitler Youth that was created in the mid-1930s as a result of Hitler Youth expansion throughout Nazi Germany. The purpose of the rank was to provide more adult leadership ranks other than the previous title of Hitlerjugendführer.

Bannführer was divided into three levels, mainly the basic rank of Bannführer followed by two higher ranks of Oberbannführer and Hauptbannführer. The insignia consisted of a leaf shoulder insignia worn on a Hitler Youth jacket.

The rank of Bannführer has made at least two appearances in modern motion pictures about World War II; mainly “Swing Kids” (where a Bannführer is shown instructing a group of Hitler Youth in boxing) and in “Europa Europa” where a Bannführer runs a Hitler Youth academy. A Bannführer also plays a relatively big role in Hitlerjunge Quex.

Nazi Germany paramilitary ranks
Combat ranks	Anwärter Junker Schütze Oberschütze Sturmmann Volkssturmmann Stabsscharführer Rottenführer Unterscharführer Scharführer Oberscharführer Hauptscharführer Sturmscharführer Zugführer (Volkssturm) Untersturmführer Obersturmführer Kompanieführer (Volkssturm) Hauptsturmführer Bataillonsführer (Volkssturm) Sturmbannführer Obersturmbannführer Standartenführer Oberführer Brigadeführer Gruppenführer Obergruppenführer Oberst-Gruppenführer
Non-combat ranks	Bewerber Aufseherin Mann Oberrottenführer HJ Staffelführer Truppführer Obertruppführer Haupttruppführer Sturmführer Rapportführer Sonderführer Sturmhauptführer Schutzhaftlagerführer Gauführer Untergruppenführer Stabsführer Reichsjugendführer Bannführer Korpsführer Reichsführer-SS Stabschef (SA)
Nazi Party ranks	Blockleiter Zellenleiter Ortsgruppenleiter Kreisleiter Gauleiter Reichsleiter
Other ranks	RLB-Präsident
Organizations	Nazi Party Sturmabteilung Schutzstaffel Allgemeine SS SS-Verfügungstruppe Waffen-SS SS-Totenkopfverbände Hitler Youth National Socialist Motor Corps National Socialist Flyers Corps Volkssturm