Was Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer-SS and Hitler’s right-hand man, responsible for the implementation of the Final Solution - the extermination of the Jews?
Heinrich Himmler was born in Munich, Germany on 7 October 1900. In 1923, Himmler joined the Nazi party. He became Reichsführer-SS in 1929. By the time World War Two broke out, Himmler was one of the most feared men in Nazi Germany and Europe. Heinrich Himmler devised the plans which led to the killing of millions of Jews.
The Final Solution was the Nazi’s policy during World War Two to systematically eliminate all European Jews through genocide. About 6 million Jews were killed in the Final Solution, which was predominantly Heinrich Himmler’s brainchild.
Himmler believed in the creation of a master race as well as racial purity. When Himmler was given more power in 1933 he saw an opportunity to fulfil his ‘pure race’ belief. …show more content…
At this time, Heinrich Himmler was the leader. Himmler was then given the responsibility for all security matters in the occupied Soviet Union. Hitler instructed Himmler to eliminate anyone who could be a possible threat to ultimate German rule.
In July 1941 SS General Reinhard Heydrich was authorized to prepare the implementations of the ‘complete solution of the Jewish question.’ Himmler assigned a German General with the operations to methodically kill Jews of Generalgouvernement, in the autumn of 1941. This plan was given the name ‘Operation Reinhard.’ Three killings were set up in Poland, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. Mass murders of Jews were the main purpose of these