[1] Since then, the term Gruppenführer is also used for leaders of groups/teams of the police, fire departments, military and several other organizations.

A Gruppenführer commanded an SS-Abschnitt while a new rank, that of Obergruppenführer, oversaw the SS-Oberabschnitte which were the largest SS units in Germany.

[3] The insignia for SS-Gruppenführer consisted of three oak leaves centred on both collars of an SS uniform.

From 1930 to 1942, the SS insignia was the same as the SA badge of rank; however the SS modified the Gruppenführer insignia slightly to include a collar pip (stern, a star), upon the creation of the rank SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer in April 1942.

[4] In the SA, a Gruppenführer was typically in charge of a number of regiments (known as Standarten) which were formed into SA-Gruppen.