Staffelführer ([ˈʃtafl̩ˌfyːʁɐ], "Formation leader") was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel (SS) in the early years of that group's existence.
The later SS rank of Staffelführer traces its origins to the First World War, where the title was used by commanding officers of the Deutsches Heer's Luftstreitkräfte aircraft squadrons initially named as Feldflieger Abteilung as observation-only units in 1914, and during 1916, became known as Staffeln.
The rank of Staffelführer was first created in September 1925 when the SS was officially formed along the lines of the previously disbanded Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler, which had been a personal Sturmabteilung bodyguard detachment tasked with the personal protection of Adolf Hitler at Nazi Party rallies and meetings.
Each SS unit comprised no more than ten SS-Mann under the command of an SS-Staffelführer, or squadron leader.
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