Heinrich Himmler

Head of the Nazi police forces

Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945) was a German National Socialist official and head of the Nazi police forces. He was the son of a Catholic schoolmaster and received a diploma in agriculture. After the First World War Heinrich Himmler joined militant rightist organizations.

Munich Beer Hall Putsch

In 1923 he was participated in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch and joined the Nazi party in 1925. Prior to 1930 he was director of propaganda of the party and in 1929 Heinrich Himmler became chief of the SS. immediately he began expanding the "Black Skirts". In 1933 the SS reached a membership of more than 50,000 men.

Gestapo

In 1934, after Hitler's accession to power, Himmler won the control of the Gestapo, the secret police. At Dachau he established the first concentration camp. As head of all German police forces from 1936 to 1945 he carried out Adolf Hitler's program for the extermination of Jews and the opposition of the regime.

SS acquired vast police powers

Heinrich Himmler began to build the SS into a powerful-armed troop next to the armed forces. Eventually the SS acquired vast police powers in all the territories of Germany and was responsible in the areas of security, espionage and intelligence gathering.
Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Minister of the Interior in 1943 and in 1944 he became director of home-front operations and chief of the German armed forces within the borders of Germany.

Succeeding Adolf Hitler

At the end of the war Himmler increasingly suffered from psychotic illnesses. He obtained the desire to succeed Adolf Hitler by seeking peace with the Western allies. Hitler found out and ordered his arrest. Himmler attempted to escape, but was captured by the British army in April 1945.
Himmler committed suicide shortly after his arrest, before he could be brought to trial.