Reinhard Heydrich

Who was Reinhard Heydrich?

Reinhard Heydrich was a naval officer between 1922 and 1931. He was a leading Nazi official.

When was Reinhard Heydrich important?

Reinhard Heydrich was important between 1931 and 1942.

Why was Reinhard Heydrich important in Nazi Germany?

Reinhard Heydrich was an important figure in the Nazi Party holding 4 key roles under the regime:

• ❖ He joined the SS in August 1931.
• ❖ He became the leader of the Security Service (Sicherheitsdienst; SD).
• ❖ In April 1933, he was made the deputy-leader, under Himmler, of the Gestapo, or secret police. In 1934 he became the leader of the Gestapo.
• ❖ In September 1939, Heydrich became the leader of a new organisation called the Reich Security Main Office (Reichssicherheitshauptamt or RSHA). This was created by merging the Gestapo and SD.