Reich Main Security Office
Overview
The Reich Main Security Office (Reichssicherheitshauptamt or RSHA) was a Nazi organization during World War II. It was a key component of the security apparatus of the Third Reich, responsible for intelligence, security, and police duties. The RSHA was created in 1939 by Heinrich Himmler, who sought to consolidate the various security departments of the Nazi state into a single, centralized agency.
History
The RSHA was established on September 27, 1939, following the outbreak of World War II. It was formed by merging the security and police agencies of the Nazi state: the Gestapo, the Kriminalpolizei (Kripo), and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD). This consolidation was part of Himmler's efforts to centralize control over all aspects of security in the Reich, a goal he had pursued since his appointment as Reichsführer-SS in 1929.
Structure
The RSHA was divided into seven main departments, each with its specific responsibilities. These departments were further subdivided into sections and subsections, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of the RSHA's duties.
Amt I: Personnel and Organization
Amt I was responsible for the administrative tasks of the RSHA, including personnel management, training, and organizational development. It was led by SS-Brigadeführer Bruno Streckenbach.
Amt II: Administration, Law, and Finance
Amt II handled the RSHA's administrative, legal, and financial affairs. It was overseen by SS-Brigadeführer Franz Six.
Amt III: German-Internal Intelligence
Amt III, also known as the Inland-SD, was the domestic intelligence branch of the RSHA. It was tasked with monitoring and suppressing opposition to the Nazi regime within Germany.
Amt IV: Gestapo
Amt IV was the infamous Gestapo, the secret state police of Nazi Germany. It was responsible for political policing and the suppression of opposition to the Nazi regime.
Amt V: Criminal Police
Amt V, the Kriminalpolizei or Kripo, was the criminal investigation department of the RSHA. It dealt with non-political crimes and was the equivalent of a national detective force.
Amt VI: Foreign Intelligence
Amt VI, also known as the Ausland-SD, was the foreign intelligence branch of the RSHA. It conducted espionage and counter-espionage operations outside of Germany.
Amt VII: Ideological Research and Evaluation
Amt VII was responsible for ideological research and evaluation. It monitored and analyzed foreign press and literature for information that could be used in the ideological training of SS members.
Role in the Holocaust
The RSHA played a central role in the implementation of the Final Solution, the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jews. Amt IV, the Gestapo, was particularly involved in this process, as it was responsible for the deportation of Jews to concentration and extermination camps.
Post-War Legacy
After the defeat of Nazi Germany, the RSHA was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg Trials. Many of its former officials were prosecuted and convicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.