Himmler

Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was a German Nazi official and one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi regime. As Reichsführer-SS from 1929, he built the Schutzstaffel (SS) from a personal protection unit into a large paramilitary organization that played a central role in enforcing Nazi policies. He was also appointed head of the German police and, from 1939, of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA), incorporating the Gestapo, Kripo, and Sicherheitsdienst (SD).

Under Himmler, the SS grew to become a key instrument of state control and terror. He oversaw the enforcement of racial policy, the surveillance and suppression of political opponents, and the administration of concentration and extermination camps. He was closely associated with the implementation of the Final Solution and the broader plan to eradicate or deport millions of people deemed undesirable by the regime. His office directed activities in occupied territories, including deportations to camps and mass executions conducted by various units of the SS and police.

Early in his career, Himmler joined the Nazi Party and the SS and rose through the ranks due to his dedication to racial ideology and organizational ability. He pursued a vision of an ethnically defined future for Germany and its conquered regions, advocating plans such as Generalplan Ost that aimed at population resettlement and terrible human cost.

After Germany’s defeat, Himmler attempted to negotiate with Allied forces and was