Heinrich Himmler commanded the Schutzstaffel.
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( [ ˈhaɪnʁɪç ˈluˑɪtˌpɔlt ˈhɪmlɐ ] ; 7 October 1900 -- 23 May 1945 ) was Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel ( Protection Squadron ; SS ) , and a leading member of the Nazi Party ( NSDAP ) of Germany . Reichsführer-SS ( [ ˈʁaɪçsˌfyːʁɐ ˈɛs ˈɛs ] ) was a special title and rank that existed between the years of 1925 and 1945 for the commander of the Schutzstaffel ( SS ) . Reichsführer-SS was a title from 1925 to 1933 , and from 1934 to 1945 it was the highest rank of the SS .