Heinrich Himmler

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S72707, Heinrich Himmler

Heinrich Himmler (7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was a leading member of the Nazi Party, serving as Reichsführer-SS from 1929 until the end of World War II in Europe in 1945. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and one of the people most directly responsible for the Holocaust.

Early Life

Heinrich Himmler was born in Munich, Bavaria, to a conservative middle-class family. His father was Joseph Gebhard Himmler, a secondary school teacher and principal, and his mother was Anna Maria Himmler (née Heyder), a devout Roman Catholic. Heinrich was named after his godfather, Prince Heinrich of Bavaria, a member of the royal family of Bavaria, who was tutored by Gebhard Himmler.

Rise in the Nazi Party

Himmler joined the Nazi Party in 1923 and the SS in 1925. By 1929, he had risen to the position of Reichsführer-SS, effectively in command of all SS activities. Under his leadership, the SS grew from a small paramilitary unit to one of the largest and most powerful organizations in the Third Reich. Himmler's SS was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust, including the establishment and operation of extermination camps.

World War II and the Holocaust

During World War II, Himmler held several key positions in the Nazi hierarchy, including head of the German police and Minister of the Interior. In these roles, he was directly responsible for the implementation of the Final Solution, the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jewish people. Himmler organized the mass murder of Jews in the extermination camps and was also involved in the persecution and murder of millions of others, including Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, Romani people, and homosexuals.

Downfall and Death

As the war turned against Germany, Himmler's influence began to wane. In 1945, he attempted to negotiate peace with the Allies without Hitler's knowledge. When Hitler found out, he stripped Himmler of all his titles and responsibilities. Himmler attempted to go into hiding but was captured by British forces in May 1945. He committed suicide by ingesting a cyanide capsule on 23 May 1945, shortly after his capture.

Legacy

Himmler's legacy is one of infamy. He is remembered as one of the architects of the Holocaust and a symbol of the evils of the Nazi regime. His actions and those of the organization he led resulted in the deaths of millions of people.