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

 

The Security Service of the Reichsführer-SS

In 1934, when Reinhard Heydrich became head of the Prussian Secret State Police Office, he had already been in charge of the "Security Service of the Reichsf½hrer-SS" (SD) for three years. This agency's job was to maintain surveillance over the activities of opponents to the NSDAP and to avert any danger posed to the Party. In 1934, the SD was declared the sole intelligence service of the Party; in 1937, responsibilities were divided between the Gestapo and SD. Heydrich, as head of both the Gestapo and SD, ensured that both institutions would work in close co-operation.

A network of informers (V-Leute) provided an influx of information to the SD headquarters at Wilhelmstrasse 102. From here, "Reports from the Reich" (Meldungen aus dem Reich) were compiled regularly, informing the party leadership in a relatively candid manner of the political situation in Germany, and, in particular, of the mood of the population. Surveillance of the Party had been officially forbidden by Himmler, but was nonetheless tolerated internally.

 

Another important task of the SD was covert intelligence operations in Germany and foreign countries. One well-known example is the feigned attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, through which the SD, in conjunction with the Gestapo, was able to provide Hitler with the pretext he needed to justify the invasion of Poland. Many SS leaders from the ranks of the SD later played an important role in the "final solution of the Jewish question", particularly as members of the Special Police Units (Einsatzgruppen) of the Security Police and the SD.