Fhrer

Fhrer, meaning "leader" or "guide" in German, was a title granted by German Chancellor Adolf Hitler to himself by law following the death of Reichsprsident Paul von Hindenburg in 1934. The new position, fully named Fhrer 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 Fhrer (The Leader). One of Hitler's most-repeated political slogans was "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fhrer" ("One people, one country, one leader").

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