The Reichsführer-SS and his empire The Secret State Police The Security Service of the Reichsführer-SS The Reich Security Main Office

 

The Reichsführer-SS and his empire The most important tasks of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler and his Protection Squad (SS) were: • The persecution and elimination of all political elements which the Nazis regarded as opponents; • The creation of a "racially pure" Germany, in particular through the systematic persecution and expulsion of the Jews, • The acquisition by force of more "living space" (Lebensraum) and the establishment of a new European order based on race.

For police and intelligence matters, the Security Service (SD) and the Secret State Police (Gestapo), which had gradually been merged with the SS, were at the disposal of the Reichsführer-SS. Himmler created a concentration camp system, which was used to isolate and eliminate all people who had been declared "state" or "national enemies." In addition to political opponents, a large number of minorities and social fringe groups were also considered "enemies". What had begun as a system to secure power within Germany was expanded in 1939 to include the persecution and elimination of all perceived or actual political opponents throughout Europe. The SS participated in the campaigns of conquest and played a decisive role in the planning and execution of the concept of racial-political repression and annihilation. Special extermination camps were established to murder the "racial-political major enemy", the Jewish population in Europe.