Reich Security Service

The Reich Security Service ( RSD ) was an SS division in the German Reich at the time of National Socialism , which was responsible for the personal protection of Adolf Hitler and later also other high-ranking personalities of the Nazi regime . The RSD existed from 1935 to 1945.

history

The Reich Security Service was founded on March 15, 1933 as the “Führererschutzkommando” and renamed “Reich Security Service” on August 1, 1935. Its members initially consisted of members of the Bavarian police and carried out personal protection tasks for the dictator only within the Bavarian state borders. Outside of Bavaria, this task was taken over by the so-called SS escort command of the Führer , an initially eight-person bodyguard group. From 1935 onwards, the RSD as the official framework of the "escort command" was greatly expanded in terms of personnel. From 1938 the members of the RSD wore field gray SS uniforms.

By decision of the High Command of the Armed Forces , members of the RSDs received after the outbreak of World War II, the status of officers of the armed forces so that they could fall back under their area easily to personnel and equipment of the armed forces. From 1939 its official name was "Reich Security Service Group Geheime Feldpolizei zb V."

Throughout its existence, Johann Rattenhuber was the head of the Reich Security Service. After Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945, Rattenhuber stayed in the Führerbunker until May 1 , after which he was taken prisoner by the Soviets .

Members of the Reich Security Service

• Johann Bergmüller
• Ludwig Bergmüller
• Peter Högl (1897–1945)
• Josef Jörg (1896–1964)
• Johann Küffner (1896 - unknown)
• Franz Lutz (1893 - unknown)
• Konrad Schmidbauer (1895 - unknown)
• Ludwig Wurmannstätter

See also

• Driver Accompanying Command (FBK)
• Security Service of the Reichsführer SS (SD)
• Reich Security Main Office (RSHA)
• Security Police (Sipo)
• Secret State Police (Gestapo)

literature

• Peter Hoffmann : The security of the dictator. R. Pieper & Co., Munich 1975, ISBN 3-492-02120-4 .
• Rudolf Absolon: The Wehrmacht in the Third Reich. 5. September 1, 1939 to December 18, 1941 . Oldenbourg Verlag 1988, ISBN 3-764-61882-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ DER SPIEGEL 15/1976. Retrieved February 22, 2014 . 
2. ^ Rudolf Absolon: The Wehrmacht in the Third Reich. 5. September 1, 1939 to December 18, 1941 . Oldenbourg Verlag 1988, ISBN 3-764-61882-5 , p. 44.