The Gestapo (Secret State Police) Flashcards

What was the Gestapo?

The Nazi secret state police. It tracked down and arrested people seen as enemies of the regime.

When was the Gestapo set up, and by whom?

It was set up in 1933 by Hermann Göring in Prussia. It soon spread across Germany.

Who controlled the Gestapo after 1934?

Heinrich Himmler took control, and Reinhard Heydrich directed its security work.

What did the 1936 Gestapo Law do?

It put the Gestapo above the courts. Officers could arrest and hold people without trial.

What did “protective custody” mean under the Gestapo?

A claim that someone was being kept safe, but it meant jailing them without trial, often in a concentration camp.

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How did the Gestapo find suspects?

They used tips from informers and neighbours. They listened to phone calls, read mail, and made surprise searches.

Did the Gestapo wear uniforms?

No. They worked in plain clothes so they could blend in and spy more easily.

How big was the Gestapo compared to the population?

It had only about 30,000 officers for millions of people, so it relied on fear and informers.

Who were common targets of the Gestapo?

Political opponents (like Communists and Social Democrats), trade unionists, religious dissenters such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews under racist laws, and anyone breaking Nazi rules.

How did the Gestapo create fear and control?

By keeping secret files, making surprise arrests, using harsh questioning, and threatening to send people to camps.

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