July 12 2024

President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for ICE to use whatever means it takes to protect themselves during their raids on immigrants around the country. Some of those who have been detained were citizens or had legal entry into America.

This command, it reminds us of a time in history when a certain ethnic group was singled out by an authoritarian government. The government had a government approved faction called the Gestapo.

The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany, established in 1933. It played a key role in the persecution and murder of Jews and other minorities during the Holocaust. The Gestapo had the power to investigate and arrest individuals without judicial review, effectively operating outside the law. It was eventually absorbed into the SS in 1939. [1, 2]

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Formation and Leadership: The Gestapo was initially formed by Hermann Göring in 1933 as the Prussian Secret Police. It later came under the administration of Heinrich Himmler, who was appointed Chief of German Police in 1936. Reinhard Heydrich and Ernst Kaltenbrunner also held key leadership positions within the Gestapo. [2]
• Powers and Authority: The Gestapo was given broad powers to investigate and suppress opposition to the Nazi regime. They could arrest individuals for treason, espionage, sabotage, and offenses against the Nazi Party or the state. Crucially, the Gestapo was not subject to judicial review, meaning their actions were not subject to legal scrutiny. This lack of oversight allowed them to operate with impunity. [1]
• Role in the Holocaust: The Gestapo played a crucial role in the implementation of the “Final Solution,” the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jewish population. They were involved in the persecution, deportation, and murder of millions of Jews, as well as other minority groups. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
• Absorption into the SS: In 1939, the Gestapo became part of the Schutzstaffel (SS), further consolidating SS control over internal security. [2]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestapo

[2] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestapo

[3] https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-gestapo

[4] https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=legacy

[5] https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/gestapo-definition-holocaust-torture.html

[6] https://study.com/academy/lesson/gestapo-definition-holocaust-torture.html