Kriminalpolizei (Nazi Germany)
Kriminalpolizei, often abbreviated as Kripo, is the German name for a criminal investigation department. This article deals with the criminal investigation departments of Nazi Germany.
The Kripo consisted of the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt, later Amt V of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, and its directly subordinated criminal investigation centers (Kripo-Leitstellen and Kripo-Stellen), as well as the criminal investigation divisions of the local state (Staatliche Kriminalabteilungen) and municipal police departments (Gemeindekriminalpolizeiabteilungen). In 1943 both the latter became directly subordinated to the criminal investigation centers. The personnel consisted of detectives in the Junior Criminal Investigation Career, the Executive Criminal Investigation Career, and the Female Criminal Investigation Career.
Central organization
In July 1936, the Prussian central criminal investigation department (Landeskriminalpolizeiamt) became the central criminal investigation department for Germany, and was known as the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt. It was merged, along with the secret state police department, the Geheime Staatspolizei or Gestapo into the Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo). They were placed under a centralized command office known as the Hauptamt Sicherheitspolizei.[1] At that point, Reinhard Heydrich was in overall command of the SiPo, the Hauptamt Sicherheitspolizei and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD). Arthur Nebe was appointed head of the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt, and reported to Heydrich.[2]
In September 1939, the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA) was created as the overarching command organization for the various state investigation and security agencies. The Hauptamt Sicherheitspolizei was officially abolished and its departments were folded into the RSHA. The Reichskriminalpolizeiamt became Amt V (Department 5), in the RSHA. It was commanded by Nebe until 1944, when he was denounced and executed subsequent to the failed 20 July plot to kill Adolf Hitler. In the last year of its existence, Amt V was commanded by Friedrich Panzinger.[3]
Mission
The mission of Amt V was to:[4]
- Standardize criminological methods and equipment
- Apply scientific research and experience in the investigation and prevention of crime
- Conduct criminological training
- Provide data for policy decisions and legislation
- Nationalize police surveillance
- Maintain a national criminal register
- Investigate severe crimes
Activities
In 1945 Amt V had the following bureaus:[4]
| Bureau | Responsibility | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| V A | Criminal policy and preventions | Legal affairs, international cooperation, research, crime prevention, female detectives |
| V B | Operations | Serious violent crimes, fraud, sexual crimes |
| V C | Registration and surveillance | War surveillance, surveillance technology, canine service |
| V D | Forensics | Identification, chemical and biological laboratory examinations, document studies, technical workshops |
| V Wi | Economic crimes | Crimes against the war economy, war profiteering, corruption, business crimes |
Field Organization
Field Organization 1939–1943
| Level | Agency | Organizational Subordination |
|---|---|---|
| Regional | Kriminalpolizei-Leitstelle criminal investigation department control center | Amt V |
| Regional | Kriminalpolizei-Stelle criminal investigation department center | Amt V |
| Local | Staatliche Kriminalabteilung state criminal investigation division | State Police Commmissioner |
| Local | Gemeindekriminalpolizei-Abteilung municipal criminal investigation division | Municipal Police Commmissioner |
- Source:[4]
Towns with over 10,000 residents having a municipal police department were obliged to have a municipal criminal investigation division - Gemeindekriminalpolizeiabteilung. It was supervised by the nearest Kripo-Stelle.[4]
Field Organization 1943–1945
From 1943 all municipal criminal investigation divisions with over ten detectives, i.e. mainly in towns with over 50,000 inhabitants, were transferred to the state criminal police. Local state criminal investigations divisions were hencefort not subordinated to the local state police commissioner.[4]
| Level | Agency | Organizational Subordination |
|---|---|---|
| Regional | Kriminalpolizei-Leitstelle criminal investigation department control center | Amt V |
| Regional | Kriminalpolizei-Stelle criminal investigation department center | Amt V |
| Local | Kriminalpolizei-Aussendiensstelle criminal investigation department field office | nearest Kripo-Leitstelle or Kripo-Stelle |
| Local | Kriminalpolizei-Aussenposten criminal investigation department outposts | nearest Kripo-Leitstelle, Kripo-Stelle or Kripo-Aussendienststelle |
- Source:[4]
In 1944 there were 22 Kripo-Leitstellen with 150-250 detectives under an Oberregierungs- und Kriminalrat; 44 Kripo-Stellen with 80-120 detectives under a Regierungs- und Kriminalrat or Kriminaldirektor; and 698 Kripo-Aussendienstellen and Kripo-Aussenpost, of which the latter per definition had less than ten detectives.[4]
Personnel
There were two separate detective careers: the junior criminal investigation career (einfacher Vollzugsdienst) and the executive criminal investigation career (leitender Vollzugsdienst).[5][6] There were also a female criminal investigation career (weibliche Kriminalpolizei).[7]
Employment and training
Junior Criminal Investigation Career
A detective trainee had to be a policeman in the Ordnungspolizei or a soldier in the Waffen-SS with the rank of SS-Unterscharführer or above, having served at least 4 ½ years, and not be older than 24 years. The Kriminalassistentanwärter (detecitve trainee) began his training as an intern for 12 months, followed by a 12 months course at the Kriminalfachschule (Criminal investigation college) in Berlin-Charlottenburg. After the college came a 12 months period as probationary detective (Kriminalassistent aus Probe). First employment was as apl. Kriminalassistent (supernumerary detective) until a billet was free and he could be appointed to a permanent position as Kriminalassistent.[5]
Executive Criminal Investigation Career
Externally recruited senior detective trainees (Kriminalkommissaranwärter) must have taken the general university entrance exam (Abitur) and been selected through a special selection procedure (Ausleselager).[5] Internally recruited senior detective trainees came from the lower ranks of the Ordnungspolizei or from the junior criminal investigation career. They were selected through a civil service exam. The training began with a 12 months internship, followed by a 9 months course at the Führerschule der Sicherheitspolizei in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The trainee was then promoted to Hilfskriminalkommissar; normally he was within a few days given a six months probationary appointment as Kriminalkommissar auf Probe, before being promoted to außerplanmäßigen Kriminalkommissar as a supernumerary.[8]
Female Criminal Investigation Career
According to regulations issued by the RSHA in 1940, women that had been trained in social work or having a similar education could be hired as female detectives. Female youth leaders, lawyers, business administrators with experience in social work, female leaders in the Reichsarbeitsdienst and personnel administrators in the Bund Deutscher Mädel were hired as detectives after a one-year course if they had several years professional experience. Later also nurses, kindergarten teachers and trained female commercial employees with an aptitude for police work were hired as female detecives after a two-year course. After two years as Kriminaloberassistentin promotion to Kriminalsekretärin could take place, after another two or three years in that grade the female detective could be promoted to Kriminalobersekretärin. Further promotions to Kriminalkommissarin and Kriminalrätin was also possible.[7]
Grade and pay
| Pay Grade[9] | Annual Pay Reichsmark (RM)[9] |
Grade in the einfachen Vollzugsdienst [9] |
Grade in the leitenden Vollzugsdienst [9] |
Corresponding rank in the SS (Wehrmacht-Heer)[9][10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A8c2 | 2,160-2,340 | Kriminalassistent | SS-Oberscharführer (Feldwebel) | |
| A7c A8a | 2,000-3,000 | Kriminaloberassistent | SS-Hauptscharführer (Oberfeldwebel) | |
| A7a | 2,350-3,500 | Kriminalsekretär | SS-Untersturmführer (Leutnant) | |
| A5b | 2,300-4,200 | Kriminalobersekretär | SS-Untersturmführer (Leutnant) | |
| A4c2 | 2,800-5,000 | Kriminalinspektor | SS-Obersturmführer (Oberleutnant) | |
| A4c1 | 2,800-5,300 | Kriminalkommissar | SS-Obersturmführer (Oberleutnant) | |
| A4c1 | 2,800-5,300 | Kriminalkommissar with more than three years in the grade | SS-Hauptsturmführer (Hauptmann) | |
| A3b | 4,800-7,000 | Kriminalrat | SS-Hauptsturmführer (Hauptmann) | |
| A3b | 4,800-7,000 | Kriminalrat with more than three years in the grade | SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) | |
| A2d | 4,800-7,800 | Kriminaldirektor | SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) | |
| A2c2 | 4,800-8,400 | Regierungs- und Kriminalrat | SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) | |
| A2b | 7,000-9,700 | Oberregierungs- und Kriminalrat | SS-Obersturmbannführer (Oberstleutnant) | |
| A1b | 6,200-10,600 | Regierungs- und Kriminaldirektor | SS-Standartenführer (Oberst) | |
| A1b | 6,200-10,600 | Reichskriminaldirektor | SS-Standartenführer (Oberst) |
Mean annual pay for an industrial worker was 1,459 Reichsmark in 1939, and for a privately employed white-collar worker 2,772 Reichsmark.
References
- ↑ Max Williams. Reinhard Heydrich: The Biography, Volume 1—Road To War, 2001, p. 77. ISBN 978-0-9537577-5-6.
- ↑ Henry Friedlander. The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution, 1995, p. 55. ISBN 0-8078-2208-6.
- ↑ Friedlander, p. 55.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The German Police, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force: Evaluation and Dissemination Section (G-2), 1945, pp. 64–78.
- 1 2 3 Der Reichsführer SS, Dich ruft die SS (Berlin: Hermann Hillger KG, 1942)
- ↑ Jens Banach, "Polizei im NS-System - Ausbildung und Rekrutierung in der Sicherheitspolizei", Hans Jürgen Lange (ed.), Die Polizei der Gesellschaft: Zur Soziologie der inneren Sicherheit, 2003, p. 64.
- 1 2 Sieglinde Ahlers, "Frauen in der Polizei", Vorlesungsreihe zur Geschichte von Frauen in Duisburg im Rahmen des 7. Duisburger Frauenforums DonnAwetter 1995, p. 34 Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- ↑ GELZENZENTRUM Die geheime Staatspolizei - Gestapo Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Siegfried Beer, "Die Gestapostelle Linz, 1938–1945. Eine dokumentarische Rekonstruktion auf Basis der Recherchen des amerikanischen Militärgeheimdienstes CIC/MIS aus dem Jahre 1946." Klaus Luger/Johann Mayr (ed.), Stadtgesellschaft. Werte und Positionen. Bürgermeister Franz Dobusch zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet (Linz 2011): 315–356.
- ↑ Andrew Mollo, Uniforms of the SS, vol. 5: "Sicherheitsdienst und Sicherheitspolizei 1931–1945", 1971.