The Gestapo (German pronunciation: [ɡeˈstaːpo ɡəˈʃtaːpo] ; abbreviation of Geheime Staatspolizei Secret State Police) was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe. Hermann Göring formed the unit in 1933. Beginning on 20 April 1934 it was under the administration of SS national leader Heinrich Himmler who in 1936 was appointed Chief of German Police (Chef der Deutschen Polizei) by Hitler.
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