The Gestapo, Geheime Staatspolizei, was a Secret State Police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe.
It was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police corps of Prussia into one single organization. On 20 April 1934 the SS, controlled by Heinrich Himmler took over the command of the Gestapo. From 27 September 1939, it was administered by the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA). It became known as Amt (Dept) 4 of the RSHA and was considered a sister organization to the Sicherheitsdienst (SD; Security Service). During World War II, the Gestapo played a key role in the Holocaust. After the war ended, the Gestapo was declared a criminal organization.