in september 1939 the security and police agencies of nazi germany (with the exception of the orpo) were consolidated into the reich main security office (rsha) of the ss, headed by reinhard heydrich. the gestapo became "amt iv" (department iv) of the rsha and heinrich müller became the gestapo chief, with heydrich as his immediate superior. from may to july 1940, lange ran the gestapo offices of weimar and erfurt, while working as the deputy head of the office of the inspector of the sipo in kassel. in september 1940, lange was promoted as the deputy head of police for berlin. in april 1941, he was promoted to ss-"sturmbannführer" (major).