On June 17th 1936 Hitler signed into law the creation of two positions, Reichsführer SS and Chief of the German Police. Heinrich Himmler was appointed to both roles. The move centralised police within the state apparatus and removed a conflict of interests between the SS and the Ministry of the Interior. Under the terms, below, Himmler remained nominally under the Minister for the Interior. In reality, the creation of the position granted him the autonomy to manage the SS, Gestapo and Police services as he saw fit. From this point onwards, the SS had significantly more power and influence.
Creation of the positions of Reichsführer SS and Chief of the German Police
To unify the control of police duties in the Reich, a chief of the German Police shall be appointed within the Reich Ministry of the Interior, to whom is assigned the direction and executive authority for all police matters within the jurisdiction of the Reich and Prussian Ministries of the Interior.
1. The Deputy Chief of the Prussian Gestapo, Reichsführer SS Himmler, is hereby nominated Chief of the German Police in the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
2. He is personally and directly subordinate to the Reich and Prussian Ministers of the Interior.
3. For matters within his jurisdiction, he represents the Reich and Prussian Ministers of the Interior in the absence of the latter.
4. He carries the service title: Reichsführer SS and Chief of the German Police within the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
The Chief of the German Police in the Reich Ministry of the Interior will take part in the meetings of the Reich Cabinet in so far as matters within his jurisdiction are concerned.
I hereby charge the Reich and the Prussian Ministers of the Interior with the execution of this decree.
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Sources: The Weimar Republic 1918–29 – Sources: Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33 – Sources: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39 – Sources: Life in Nazi Germany, 1933–39
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Weimar and Nazi Germany – Rise of the Nazi Party – Appeasement: Source Material – Source Analysis Lesson: Nazi Methods of Control – Revision Guide, Weimar and Nazi Germany