са, сс, гестапо

...but wasn't Heydrich under Himmler?

Posts: 1476Joined: 27 May 2003, 01:01Location: Berlin, Germany

Last edited by on 04 Aug 2003, 03:05, edited 1 time in total.

The GeStaPo was a police Organisation, and as such a State agency. The SA, SS, and SD were party organisations, but this difference became more and more irrelevant in the TR. And bear in mind that the "baroque" organisation of TR agencies was often founded in the "Divide et impera!" rule.

Navy Vet wrote:I've read what's in Marcus' factbook about each but how do they relate to one another is more the question.SA was the paramilitary organisation of the NSDAP, primary used for streetbattles before 1933. SS was originally a part of the SA to bodyguard Hitler. But in 1934 (after the "night of long knives") the SS became independent of the SA. SD [Sicherheitsdienst] was the intelligence service of the SS, and as such a party organisation. The SD spied with everal hundred agents and several thausend informers on every german citizen and every inhabitant of the occupied europe.GeStaPo [Geheime Staats Polizei] was the "political police" in the TR. Founded 1933 by GГfring (then Primeminister of Prussia) as a police division, but in 1936 Himmler became head of the GeStaPo. The GeStaPo had the power to arrest without trial [Schutzhaft], those prisoners filled not the Jails but the KZs. The GeStaPo was also responsible for the "Einsatzgruppen".In 1939 the SD and the GeStaPo were , together with the Criminal Police, bundled in one main office (RSHA)[Reichssicherheitshauptamt]. Navy Vet wrote:Exactly what is the difference in so far as power and political organization of these?

Posts: 71Joined: 27 Jul 2003, 02:11Location: England

All these organisations were under Heydrich's fist...........now you know why he was such a dangerous man!

If my info is incorrect, please say so anyone!

The SS undertook numerous tasks such as guarding Hitler, manning the death/labour camps, they even had an elite fighting arm - the Waffen SS.

The Gestapo was the state police who basically arrested anyone who took their fancy without warrant.

Kinda like how the USA has the CIA, the Nazi's had the SD.

The "SD" I believe was the secret agent branch.

Posts: 932Joined: 11 May 2002, 05:58Location: USA

Exactly what is the difference in so far as power and political organization of these? I've read what's in Marcus' factbook about each but how do they relate to one another is more the question.

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