The Gestapo, short for Geheime Staatspolizei, German for Secrete State Police, was formally organized after the Nazi's seized power in 1933, and was the secrete police force of Nazi Germany. The Gestapo was used to reinforce Nazi ideology and to ensure anyone who did not support the Nazi state and their philosophies would be punished. Punishment was often orchestrated through means of brutality and interrogation, and was often used to acquire confessions. The Gestapo was formed when Herman Goring unified units of Prussian police with thousands of Nazi's, many of which were members of the Storm Troopers. Goring became the leader of this new force on 26 April 1933, in which he took full responsibility for the actions of this ruthless organization. In the years between 1933 to 1945 the Gestapo took on many changes in its structure and leadership, and as a result of this the functions of the Gestapo became unclear and were often integrated with those of other units of the German forces (Mainly SS units). Nevertheless they still carried out their sadistic and callous functions of rounding up communists, partisans, Jews and anybody or organization who were believed to be a potential threat to the Nazi state. .
The Structure Of The Gestapo.
The Gestapo was meticulous in its structure in that it chose only the most suitable persons for such an elitist organization. The Gestapo was formed from espionage and political units of the Prussian police along with many members of the Nazi state, mainly ex Storm Troopers. The Gestapo was originally made up of police officers who had been dismissed for brutality and army officers who had been dismissed for gross misconduct. These sorts of characteristics were what Goring sought after in his sadistic organization. It was these vicious, callous and coldhearted members of the Gestapo that would carry out all the dirty work, such as the beatings and murders of people subversive to the Nazi state.
