There were at least three types of accomplices of the German dictator: helpers in the founding and organization of the Nazi party, from 1920 onwards, members of the party in State functions after the seizure of power in January 1933, and the military themselves. , regardless of whether or not they were members of the Nazi party.
Those who caused the most damage and were most responsible for all the crimes committed were those who were directly or indirectly involved with the Hitler government, which lasted from 1933 to 1945. The main Nazi figures, who helped Hitler out of conviction and supported his atrocities knowing the they did, appear here. Many of them met tragic ends, committing suicide like the dictator to avoid capture by the Allied Armies.
Although these guys had some autonomy at times, they all reported directly to Hitler, the head (and mustache) of the regime. It is no exaggeration to say that, in addition to the strength of these right hands, the Nazi atrocities would not have happened without the support of a significant part of the German population – the plebiscite that gave full powers to Hitler had the support of 90% of the population.
How could so many people have supported this barbarity? First, the fact is that at the beginning of the Nazi dictatorship the German economy grew and unemployment went down – this also happened in much of the world, but Hitler ended up taking the credit for the German recovery. Second, most Germans were unaware of the extent of the crimes the Nazis committed. There was an absolute lack of information about what was going on, because of the relentless censorship of all media. And thirdly, fear reigned in Germany. Police-like and brutal, the Nazi government did not hesitate to torture, murder and wipe out those who dared to disagree.
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friends of the enemy
Most of the collaborators were arrested or committed suicide at the end of the war
JOSEPH GOEBBELS
MAIN POSITION – Minister of Propaganda of Nazism
Under Nazism, Goebbels controlled the information that reached the population – in morning meetings with Berlin journalists, he determined which news should be published or ignored. He also oversaw arts, music, theatre, literature, radio and film.
WHAT ENDED IT – He committed suicide in 1945, in Berlin, together with his wife, after poisoning their six children
RUDOLPH HESS
MAIN POSITION – “Minister without Portfolio” of Nazism
A great friend of Hitler, with whom he was imprisoned in the 1920s, Hess was a kind of confidant and private secretary to the dictator. Virtually no Nazi law was enacted without the signature of this former soldier.
WHAT END IT LEAD TO – Captured by the British in 1941, Hess was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in 1987
REINHARD HEYDRICH
MAIN POSITION – Head of the Central Security Office
Himmler’s direct assistant at the head of security services, Heydrich left a sad mark when he was appointed governor of territories in the current Czech Republic, in 1941. In office, he promoted mass executions to eliminate resistance to the Nazis
WHAT END DID IT TAKE – Died in 1942 as a result of injuries in a grenade attack on his car
HEINRICH HIMMLER
MAIN POSITION – Director of the Nazi police and military service
Supreme head of the secret police (the Gestapo) and the military forces of the Nazi party (the SS), Himmler was also responsible for the concentration camps. He was one of the main formulators of the policy of extermination of millions of Jews and other minorities.
HOW ENDED IT – Captured by the Allies, Himmler committed suicide with poison on May 23, 1945
WILLHELM KEITEL
MAIN POSITION – Marshal of the German Armed Forces
After Hitler, Keitel was the most powerful man in the Nazi military machine, helping to direct most of the German military campaigns during the war. Some historians consider him to be Nazi Germany’s leading military strategist.
WHAT THE END TO IT – Captured by the Allies in 1945, Keitel was sentenced to hanging, dying in 1946
HERMANN GOERING
MAIN POSITION – Military Chief of the Air Force
In addition to being the leader of the Air Force, Goering was empowered to direct the economy and the war effort. No wonder he was designated by Hitler in 1939 to succeed him, in case the leader died.
WHAT ENDED IT – After surrendering to the Americans at the end of World War II, in 1945, Goering was sentenced to death, but committed suicide by poisoning while awaiting his execution
ALBERT SPEER
MAIN POSITION – Minister of Armaments and War Production
At the head of his ministry, Speer used forced labor and slave labor from concentration camps, allowing Nazi Germany to expand its weapons production during much of World War II.
WHAT END IT LEAD TO – Captured at the end of World War II and tried by the Allies, Speer admitted guilt and served 20 years in prison. He was released in 1966 and died in 1981
JOACHIM VON RIBBENTROP
MAIN POSITION – Minister of Foreign Affairs
In his position, this old friend of Hitler exercised a policy of constant pressure against Germany’s neighboring countries to force them to adopt repressive measures against the Jews and accept the implementation of policies to support the Nazis.
WHAT END IT LOT – Captured by the British in 1945, Ribbentrop was tried and sentenced to death. He died on the gallows in 1946