gau

A "gau" was an administrative region or district in German tribal organization. It typically encompassed two or more "marks" and was inhabited by related tribes.1

During the era of National Socialism in Germany, the term "gau" was also used to designate one of the 20 party districts that included Germany and Austria. The leader of such a district was known as a "Gauleiter," a term that became particularly associated with the Nazi regime, where these leaders served as provincial governors. The word "gau" itself originates from Old High German and is related to terms for "district" or "region" in other Germanic languages.12