F�hrer

F�hrer, meaning "leader" or "guide" in German, was a title granted by German Chancellor Adolf Hitler to himself by law following the death of Reichspr�sident Paul von Hindenburg in 1934. The new position, fully named F�hrer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Reich Chancellor), formally made Hitler Germany's Head of State as well as Head of government (see also Gleichschaltung). It is modeled after its Italian equivalent 'il Duce', used by Benito Mussolini.

Hitler cultivated a personality cult about his role as leader, and was generally known as just Der F�hrer (The Leader). One of Hitler's most-repeated political slogans was "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein F�hrer" ("One people, one country, one leader").

Due to its excessive use in Nazi Germany, the term F�hrer has understandably gone out of fashion in modern Germany. The term Anf�hrer, which means the same as F�hrer, is now mostly being used as a literal translation of "leader", while F�hrer itself is only used in composites, e.g. Lokf�hrer (train driver), Bergf�hrer (mountain guide), etc.