I'm wondering what the difference between the SS and the Gestapo is. I originally thought Gestapo was just another term for the SS, but after discussing it with someone we came to the conclusion that the Gestapo is probably just a part of the SS, like the police part. Anyways, any info would be appreciated.

The Gestapo ( Ge heime Sta ats po lizei ) was the State Police Organization of Nazi Germany.

When Goering became Minister for Prussia in '33, he developed Dept 1A of the Prussian State Police but in April '34 ( after political intrigue from Himmler ) had to hand over control of what was now known as the Gestapo to the SS. Himmler placed Reinhard Heydrich at the head of the organization, which became feared throughout Occupied Europe for its' ruthless and efficient ( or brutal ) methods of tracking down 'enemies of the State'.

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The Gestapo (State Secret Police) was part of the SS department RSHA (Reich Security Main Office). It was also affiliated with the SD (Security Service) and the SIPO (Security Police).

Hello Rob,

Welcome to the forums! You got a great website. One I have visted often to do research. [img]graemlins/rk.gif[/img]

Good to see you here!

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Firts of all, welcome snow and ball! Gald to have you here! I hope you both enjoy yourselves here.

And the other guys are right on the money. The State Secret Police of Germany (GESTAPO) was just one of the various divisions of the Allgemeine SS.

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"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Thanks Steve! It's good to be here!

And who was head of Gestapo at the end of war in Europe? was he ever found?

I think it´s Ernst Kaltenbrunner who took Heydrich´s place:

http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/Kaltenbrunner2.htm

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Yeah after Heydrich was killed this guy took over but according to a book I just finished (Masters of Death) unlike Himmler and others who were caught after the war he just vanished and was never heard from again. I just wonder if this is the end of "this" story.

Kai- I just went to this site and see where he was convicted and executed by the courts. I will go back in the book I read later and get a more concise quote on this and search it out later. Also, I tried searching the site for something else and found that it wouldn't let me in- it says that the site is corrupt, whatever that means.

Wilconqr,

Kaltenbrunner was hanged in Nuremberg for sure. Maybe you´re looking for Bormann who vanished in Berlin May 1945 trying to escape?

http://www.ww2forums.com/cgi-bin/ubb...=000785#000000

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Kaltenbrunnner assumed command of the RSHA after Heydrich was assassinated. SS-Gruppenführer Heinrich Müller was the head of RSHA department 4 (Amt IV - the Gestapo) and served in that capacity under both RSHA leaders.

He "disappeared" during the May 1945 Battle of Berlin, but there's been 50+ years worth of speculation that he escaped postwar capture due to mechanizations by the CIA or KGB. (or any other shadowy intelligence organization - take your pick)

Thanx for the correction Rob-wssob!

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Reading books reading books-Gestapo:



When Hermann Goering became minister of the interior in Prussia in 1933 he recruited Diels as head of Dept 1A of the Prussian State Police. Goering was impressed by Diels and made him head of what became known as the Gestapo.

In April 1934, Goering, under pressure from Heinrich Himmler and Wilhelm Frick, agreed to hand over control of the Gestapo to the Schutzstaffel (SS). As a result Diels lost his position as head of the organization and now became security chief of the Cologne government.

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Where does the SA come in? did the ss change to sa or was it a seperate organization?

AS I remember it, Hitler established SA -SturmAbeitlung- to serve as a lifeguard for him. This para-military organisation then grew and then served as some sort of police for the nazi parti and was harrasing jews and communists in Münich were they was founded. Later the organisation grew too big for the SS eyes and was a threat for the nazi parti so SS murdered most of SA's leaders.

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Yours faithfully, Munken

"Veni, Vidi, Vici"= I came I saw, I conquered. - Julius Caesar.
"We shall never surrender"- Winston Churchill.
"United we are strong, united we will win"

The history of the Sturmabteilung (SA), often referred to as the "brown shirts", began when the Rollkommando was formed 1920 to protect the meetings held by the Deutsche Arbeiter Partei (DAP) (that would later become the NSDAP).


The rest of SA history:

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/sa-history.htm

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Nice site Kai!

Thanks Munken!

You're welcome DB. Glad to help. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Yours faithfully, Munken

"Veni, Vidi, Vici"= I came I saw, I conquered. - Julius Caesar.
"We shall never surrender"- Winston Churchill.
"United we are strong, united we will win"