- 3 - which he held until 1930. He was also director of the Hilfskasse of the Nazi Party. In 1933, Bormann was made a member of the Reichstag and became Chief of Staff to the Deputy of the Fuehrer, Rudolf Hess (Stabsleiter des. Stellvertreters des Fuehrers). Bormann worked with Hess in controlling Party affairs until the latter's flight to England. He holds the rank of Obergruppenfuhrer in both SS and SA, a Senior Group Leader. After the flight of Hess, the office of Deputy Fuhrer remained vacant. A new office, Leader of the Party Chancellery (Leiter der Parteikanzlei) was created and Bormann was appointed to it. This office gives complete control over all Nazi Party affairs and the numerous party bureaucracy to him. Political Position: The political viewpoint and position of Bormann in Nazi Germany has been made the subject of many rumors. He represents the SS group and since 1942, has purged many government officials, replacing them with SS men. He was reported to be associated with SS extremist factions. His closest friend is alleged |