However, because of its strong association with Hitler, the isolated word itself usually has negative connotations when used with the meaning of "leader", especially in political contexts.

In Swedish Ordförande means Chairman and applies to a wide range of situations, for example in corporate boards or as the head of an official gathering of members.

'Company Chief'), but if he did not have the requisite rank or experience, or was only temporarily assigned to command, he was officially titled "Kompanieführer".

The first example of the political use of Führer was with Austrian Georg Ritter von Schönerer (1842–1921), a major exponent of pan-Germanism and German nationalism in Austria, whose followers commonly referred to him as the Führer, and who also used the Roman salute – where the right arm and hand are held rigidly outstretched – which they called the "German greeting".

[3] According to historian Richard J. Evans, this use of "Führer" by Schönerer's Pan-German Association, probably introduced the term to the German far-right, but its specific adoption by the Nazis may also have been influenced by the use in Italy of "Duce", also meaning "leader", as an informal title for Benito Mussolini, the Fascist Prime Minister, and later (from 1922) dictator, of that country.

[5] Final solution Pre-Machtergreifung Post-Machtergreifung Parties In 1933, Hitler was appointed Reichskanzler (Chancellor of the Reich) by President Paul von Hindenburg.

A month later, the decision to vote with the Nazi Party taken by the MPs of the Centre Party allowed the Nazi-dominated Reichstag to reach the qualified constitutional two-thirds majority required for passage of the Enabling Act allowing the cabinet to promulgate laws by decree, rendering in practice the system of checks and balances defunct.

When conscription was reintroduced in 1935, Hitler created the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, a post held by the Minister of War.

[16] On 12 December 1941, Dutch fascist Anton Mussert also addressed him as such when he proclaimed his allegiance to Hitler during a visit to the Reich Chancellery in Berlin.

Historian Joseph Bendersky [de] says the slogan "left an indelible mark on the minds of most Germans who lived through the Nazi years.

The slogan emphasised the absolute control of the leader over practically every sector of German society and culture – with the churches being formally the most notable exception.

Hitler's word became in practice absolute and ultimate, even when incompatible with the constitution, as he saw himself as the sole source of power in Germany, similar to the Roman emperors and German early medieval leaders.

That decree itself was based on Article 48 of the constitution, which gave the president the power to take measures deemed necessary to protect public order.

In Germany, the isolated word "Führer" is usually avoided in political contexts, due to its intimate connection with Nazi institutions and with Hitler personally.

Since German is a language with grammatical gender, Führer refers to a male leader; the feminine form is Führerin.

The use of Führer to refer to a political party leader is rare today and Vorsitzender (chairman) is the more common term.