Wilhelm Ferdinand Stegmann (born June 13, 1899, in Munich, Germany) was a German National Socialist politician, SA leader, and later an SS officer who became involved in several significant events during the early years of Nazi Germany.

>Early Life and Political Involvement

Stegmann joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) in the early 1920s and was an active member of the SA (Sturmabteilung), the paramilitary wing of the party. In 1930, he was elected as a member of the Reichstag (German parliament) representing the NSDAP. During his time in the Reichstag, Stegmann worked closely with other Nazi leaders but soon faced conflicts within the party, particularly with Julius Streicher, a leading member of the Nazi movement in Franconia.

>Conflict and Break from the NSDAP

In December 1932, Stegmann became embroiled in a financial dispute with the Gauleitung (regional leadership) over funds meant for the SA, which ultimately led to his resignation from the Reichstag in January 1933. Shortly after, Stegmann founded the Franconian Freikorps, a right-wing militia that opposed the direction of the NSDAP under Streicher's influence. His actions, including the publication of the magazine Das Freikorps, calling for a purer form of National Socialism, led to his expulsion from the NSDAP on January 19, 1933, and from the SA shortly thereafter. Around 1,000 of his followers also left the party and joined his new organization.

>Imprisonment and Release

Stegmann's group was quickly banned by the Nazi regime, and he was arrested on March 23, 1933, under accusations of plotting an assassination attempt against Julius Streicher. He was placed in protective custody, during which time he was imprisoned in various facilities, including Buchenwald concentration camp and several Gestapo prisons. Stegmann was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1936 but remained in prison until 1938. His release was facilitated by an intervention from Heinrich Himmler, who sought to restore Stegmann's honor.

>SS Service and Death