Germany · Government / NSDAP Government. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
The Einsatzgruppen were formed under the direction of Heydrich and operated by the SS before and during World War II. The Einsatzgruppen had its origins in the ad hoc Einsatzkommando formed by Heydrich to secure Government buildings and documents following the Anschluss in Austria in March 1938
With the founding of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA), the Sicherheitspolizei as a functioning state agency ceased to exist as the department was merged into the RSHA. Also the RSHA obtained overall command of the Einsatzgruppen
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