The Gestapo: The Myth and Reality of Hitler's Secret Police

by Frank McDonough

Gestapo

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Germany, World War II, War, Politics, European History

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2015

About the author

Professor Frank McDonough is an internationally renowned expert on the Third Reich. He was born in Liverpool, studied history at Balliol College, Oxford and gained a PhD from Lancaster University.

He has written many critically acclaimed books on the Third Reich, including: The Gestapo: The Myth and Reality of Hitler’s Secret Police (2015). Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party (2012), Sophie Scholl: The Woman Who Defied Hitler (2009), The Holocaust (2008), Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany (2001), Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement (2002), and Hitler and Nazi Germany (1999). He has also published many other books, most notably, The Origins of the Second World War: An International Perspective (2011), The Conservative Party and Anglo-German Relations (2007), Chamberlain, Appeasement and the British Road to War (1998) and The Origins of the First and Second World Wars (1997).

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book contains the statement (now a poem) from clergyman Martin Niemöller who survived years in Dachau and felt post-war remorse for not speaking out more vociferously in opposition to all those who were persecuted by the Nazis.

First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me

The word Gestapo conjures up thoughts of terror and torture during the Nazi regime. They were the Geheime Staatspolizei or State Secret Police and began as just that...a police department created in 1933 to deal with the opponents of the government. It morphed into something more under the iron fist of Himmler and Heydrich and became known as an organization that kept the German people under constant surveillance. The author, who has written several learned books on Nazi Germany, determined that a history of the Gestapo and its role in the horrors of Nazism needed further study to clarify its role.

Many of the Gestapo files were lost or destroyed at the end of the war and the author's conclusions were often based, not on what was included in those remaining, but what was not. Therefore, he goes into detail of particular cases and eyewitness accounts to support his findings.

The target groups for the Gestapo were Jews, Communists, certain Christian groups which refused to give up their faith, and people who were denounced by neighbors,friends, etc. Gestapo methods of "enhanced interrogation" were well known but, as commonly believed, they did not simply arrest, torture, and send people to the concentration camps but instead, if the Gestapo found that the "crimes: were serious, the cases were sent to the public prosecutor for decision. Surprisingly, many cases were dismissed.

The Gestapo was not a large organization and was, thankfully, spread rather thin. Their main concentration was in Berlin and other large cities of the Reich where the majority of protest was located.

I don't feel that I can begin to cover all that is contained in this book but it can be very dull in certain sections and sometimes seems as almost an apologia. Or maybe preconceived beliefs colored my opinion. You decide.

[Edgarr Alien Pooh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"GESTAPO - The word brings a sense of dreaded evil. A collective of ruthless men who terrorised the German people and their enemies during the second world war.

Thankfully Frank McDonough has delved a little deeper to find that everything is not as it seems. The Gestapo were an enigma, a group of performers whose strings were pulled by Himmler and Heydrich, an under resourced police force who were reactionary rather than proactive and eventually the ruthless men they have always been reputed to be.

McDonough takes us back to the pre-war years when the Gestapo formed. Basically a police force, they were so short on man power that they were reliant on the public to report to them any illegal behaviour within the cities. Althoug
h they were represented outside of the cities, usually it was by just one man who was somewhat like a lone policeman covering hundreds of square kilometres and many smaller towns.

Contrary to popular opinion the Gestapo were quite a law abiding and fair force who did not blindly raid households and workplaces, turning everything over in a rage. Surprisingly Hollywood is not that accurate - WTF?? Most people were arrested from public tip offs rather than investigations but an arrest was not the end. The Gestapo investigated each case on its merits and it was not unusual for them to dismiss a case as fanciful or just plain wrong. If they believed there was a case to answer they would put forward a recommendation and the courts and judges would make a decision.

Come the mid to late 1930's a new feeling descended on Germany - let's call it Hitler's paranoia. One by one he outlawed various races, individuals and sectors of society. Common knowledge to all of us
that this included Communists, Jews, homosexuals, disabled (both physically and mentally) and blacks. Of course, being a man of immense courage, Hitler passed these laws from the safety of Berlin and then he needed someone to carry out the dirty work. He turned to Himmler, his close friend and confidant, and before long the Gestapo found themselves in an extended role - police force and gatherers of 'bad dudes'.

The war brought more pressure to bear on the Gestapo as the aforementioned Hitler began to lose the plot - oh and the war. Now spouses of Jews and extended families needed to be rounded up and sent off to concentration camps but still, the Gestapo was well and truly under staffed. The only way they could manage to weed out the ""evil"" was an increased effort on the public's behalf to denounce others.

Here we come across that lovely thing we call Human Nature. Innocents began to be denounced by work colleagues who did not get along with them, jilted
lovers, spouses trying to end a marriage, neighbours in dispute and so on. To their credit, the Gestapo maintained the status quo for as long as possible - that is, they investigated each case on its merits and released anyone whose case was unfounded.

Am I defending this fledgeling police force? Not for a second!! As hundreds of thousands of Jews started to be sent to the camps never to return, it was the Gestapo that rounded them up to send them off and they knew full well the results. Perhaps later than in the movies but the ""Hollywood"" ideal began to come true. Reports of thrashings, bashings and torture became rampant as the Gestapo made it their mission to drag every enemy from the country. Jews and communists copped the worst but homosexuals and Gypsies were not immune.

As the puppet master began to shake at the top of the tree, the dancing puppets below cut the strings and took a life of their own. They mirrored their leader in their ruthlessne
ss and cruelty, lost touch with what was right and just and became that fearful bunch of 'legal outlaws'.

As the war came to a close, Hitler's suicide and Himmler's escape and eventual capture showed (in my opinion) a total lack of courage. Not proud enough, or righteous enough to stand by what they had done and argue their case. Himmler chewed a cyanide tablet before he could be questioned. This left many leaders and members of the Gestapo to face trial in East and West Germany, Israel and other places for war crimes. In a last reflection of their leaders, they too were suddenly drained of any courage and conviction. ""We were told to do it"", ""We didn't know"", ""Just following orders"" were common responses when questioned.

Perhaps amongst the biggest crimes to be committed in association with the Nazis and World War Two were the pathetic sentences handed out during the war crimes hearings. With the division of Germany many former Gestapo members recei
ved gainful employment, particularly in West Germany. The East Germans did a better job of bringing justice but still it was far from satisfactory.

Thank you Frank McDonough. An easy to read book, gruesome details held back and just the facts rolled out. And readers if you think you know the Gestapo because of my review, I would suggest that you take a look at this book because I have not even scratched the surface."

[Marianne K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the Gestapo. I had many beliefs shattered, such as, "The assumption that Gestapo officers arrested individuals, interrogated them brutally, then sent them to a concentration camp, is a myth. Each case was dealt with exhaustively before any decision on punishment was decided upon." I was surprised to read that cases were handled through the traditional justice system. And that "sending individuals to a concentration camp was always a last resort" especially average German citizens. Another surprise for me was that the Gestapo was understaffed and relied upon denouncements by citizens of suspected law breakers. Also, the first two years of Hitler's rule, law-abiding Jews were left alone as the "destruction of political and religious opposition was the central objective" of Hitler's regime in the beginning.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband read this book and says it was a real eye opener but although quite slow at times he would recommend.

[Maarit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells about the history of Gestapo, the Nazi secret police and how it operated during Hitlers reign. Many people believe that Gestapo watched everyone everywhere, but in reality they were very understaffed and relied heavily on common people who informed them about anti-Nazi opinions and other things considered suspicious in Nazi-Germany. The book tells us a bit of background about Gestapo and how it operated and was judged after war, but most of the book is filled with cases that Gestapo investigated during its time. Some cases were opened up quite deeply, telling us how and where it got started, who was the source of information and how Gestapo investigated the claims made. As interesting as these cases were, I wish there would have been more info about the organization itself, not just the parts in the beginning and the end and those little bits here and there among the cases. So that's why I give this book 3 stars, but still I found it interesting, though a bit lacking at some points.

Also this is my third Nazi-related non-fiction book read for this year and also the last one (though I have one more of these reserved from library, but will probably get it next year). What can I say? All of them were from different topics, so it's kinda hard to say which one I found most interesting, especially when they all got the same 3 star rating. So maybe they all were equally interesting in their own ways, but still not that great to received a higher rating from me.

[Laura Oliva · Rating 4 out of 5]

La gestapo es un libro que nos ilustra como fue la formación y quienes fueron los cabecillas de este sistema de terror nazi. Mediante la investigación del autor nos introducimos a los mitos y realidades de la policía secreta de Hitler.

Es un libro que particularmente me sorprendió mucho, muchas veces cuando hablamos del Holocausto hacemos alusión solo a los judíos, y olvidamos que detrás de ellos también hubieron otros grupos políticos, sociales y culturales que sufrieron en esa época. De la mano del autor nos involucramos en el nacimiento de la Alemania nazi y en la formación de diversos sistemas que se encargaban del manejo de los presos políticos, especialmente comunistas, de la recepción de denuncias de parte de la sociedad alemana a todo aquel que consideraban que violaba las normas que se estaban imponiendo en ese entonces (muchos eran asuntos de venganza), la persecución a opositores religiosos con el fin de debilitar la fe cristiana, las relaciones entre alemanes y los que consideraban trabajadores extranjeros, el tema de la Eugenesia para la "mejora" de la salud genética y racial, la imposición de la esterilización, las leyes contra los criminales, el tema de las prostitutas, los homosexuales, las políticas contra la comunidad de gitanos...

Al final el autor nos da un panorama general de la Alemania nazi y de la Gestapo, el final de esta sociedad fue injusta para muchos, la forma de tratar este tema, una vez terminada la Segunda Guerra Mundial, como si no hubiera ocurrido o con un mínimo de daño a sociedades especificas, lamentablemente muchos recibieron el mínimo de condena por crímenes contra la humanidad y/o crímenes de guerra.

Este libro te brinda mucha información que enriquece los datos de esta época, me encantan ese tipo de lecturas y se los recomiendo en su totalidad.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank McDonough's book on the Gestapo pretty much does what it says on the tin. He corrects the myth - often spread by Nazi propaganda itself - that the Gestapo were an all-pervasive police force. While National Socialist Germany was authoritarian, it was not totalitarian until the final year of the war. Unless someone was openly against the regime, the Gestapo did not bother them and they were often surprisingly lenient towards offenders.

Conversely, the author makes no attempt to hide the evils in which they participated. The Gestapo's persecution of Christian ministers who spoke out against the National Socialist government's evils, their use of torture, and their acquiescence in anti-Semitic policies, eugenics, and euthanasia are all discussed at length. Obviously, a survey of this nature is not the final word on the subject, but Professor McDonough's book is a good starting point for those wishing to study the Gestapo.

[David Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Professor McDonough but this book left me wondering. He spends most of the book saying how benign the Gestapo was and that they were really only a small but highy educated police force. He spends at least half the book in the pre-war era and focuses entirely within Germany. In the last chapter he gives a little more insight into the crimes of some Gestapo members but I was generally underwhelmed.

[Yesica Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro, sumamente didáctico, muchas de las historias son tan reales y escalofriantes que sacan la rabia y las lágrimas del lector!

[Laura Walin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hämmentävä tietokirja, jossa sisältö ei mielestäni kovin hyvin kohtaa otsikkoaan. Odotin kompaktia esitystä Gestaposta, mutta pääosin teos käsitteli eri ryhmien vainoa natsi-Saksan aikana. Kirja on toki rakennettu kronologisesti; se alkaa Gestapon perustamiseen liittyvien seikkojen esittämisellä ja loppuu listaukseen siitä, miten Gestapon jäseniä rangaistiin - tai vielä useammin ei juuri rangaistu - toisen maailmansodan jälkeen.

Väliin mahtuu kuitenkin kirjan varsinainen runko, jossa käydään läpi eri uskonnollisten, poliittisten, seksuaalivähemmistöjen ja kansalaisuuksien kohtaama valtiollinen vaino, fokuksessa nimenomaan Saksan rajojen sisäpuoliset tapahtumat. Kirjoittaja on valinnut tekniikan (ilmeisen innostuneena hänelle avautuneista yhden alueen Gestapo-arkistoista), jossa näitä tapahtumia selvitetään pitkälti yksittäisten ihmiskohtaloiden kautta. Tulos on sirpaleinen eikä johtopäätöksiä juuri tehdä, ja vaikutelma jää hajanaiseksi.

Pääteesi vaikuttaa olevan, että Gestapo oli kuitenkin verrattain pieni organisaatio, joka pyrki tutkimaan perusteellisesti asioita, joihin se sai virikkeen lähinnä kansalaisilta tulleista ilmiannoista. Tämä jättää mieleen ristiriidan, sillä toisen maailmansodan jälkeisissä oikeudenkäynneissä tuomittiin toisin, kuten McFDonough'kin selostaa. Kirja jäi minusta enemmän aineiston listaamiseksi kuin vakuuttavaksi synteesiksi tästä mielenkiintoisesta aiheesta.

[Alex Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read one or two of the author’s other books on various aspects of WWII and will have the same problem with this one as I had with those.

The author is well educated, articulate, apparently has done his homework and has attempted his history with a “from the bottom up” approach. What is written here is a series of interesting and evocative descriptions…without a great deal of logical coordination or insight.

Reading this book is a little like looking at a competently executed painting that lacks something necessary, you just can’t put your finger on what that something is. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just that it’s not right.

Or perhaps a better comparison would be that the meal you ate out at the restaurant last night wasn’t bad, but a day or two later you can’t for the life of you remember what it was you had there.

The reader does appreciate that McDonaugh manages to avoid most of the inevitable common tropes, truisms, triteness and stereotypical moral judgements associated with a majority of books on the Nazis for most of his book, at least until the last few pages.

Why otherwise sensitive, conscientious and articulate writers feel mandated to state obligatory but highly flawed conclusions from a moral higher ground, not once or twice but continuously has always seemed a little bit of a mystery to me. That the Nazis were a single, historically unique embodiment of evil, never seen before and in the future hence never to be repeated, the Nazis were a different species to the one you and I belong to can easily be said in many different ways. But while we’re being reassured of this, we are going to miss a few vitally important lessons that history has to teach us.

While many of the men who inhabited the vehicle of Nazi Ideology were certainly sadists & moral cripples, some were not. It was not only made of of evil men, there was also the system machinery, the well-oiled government bureaucracy itself that enabled, supported and produced the enormous output of misery, terror, destruction and death.

McDonaugh extensive labours illustrate and make evident the well observed and meticulously documented instances of ‘banality of evil’ applicable throughout the whole subject. But all these critical passages do is to increase the reader’s disquietude, his incomprehension about what went on there and the mechanics of how it all worked. The reader is still left outside in the cold, looking through an opaque window, trying to distinguish the indistinct shapes on the other side.

McDonaugh takes his wire brush to the rust and, dusting off the iconic imagery of evil that we all associate with the Gestapo, attempts to shine light on the dark matters beneath. In spite of this, we remain bewildered, unable to grasp the material of truth that stubbornly remains a mystery interned beneath unlit areas in the shadows of this history.

I couldn’t give this work the 4* that it probably deserves but I can say it was worth listening to.

[Linda Morelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gestapo (The Myth and Reality of Hitler’s Secret Police) by Frank McDonough is a compelling and a “fresh interpretation” of Hitler’s notorious and effective police force in Germany during the years up to and including WWII. Building on earlier works by German and other historians, McDonough makes the case that, far from being a large police force in Germany reaching into every corner of German life, the Gestapo was a relatively small police force that relied extensively on the cooperation and active participation of the German public. Frank McDonough cites the important relationship of the Gestapo and the German people as an example of “history from below”, arguing that Hitler’s power flowed less from the top and therefore was less absolute, than from the willing and active support of the German people. This assessment generally goes against conventional views of the top down absolute power theories that have prevailed since Hitler’s death. The author supports his case with references to earlier academic research using surviving Gestapo archives that document the relationship of the Gestapo and the German people....

For the full review by Richard Morelli, please visit: http://myshelf.com/history/14/gestapo...

[Nicky Warwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

A strange book. I quite enjoyed it but it wasn't quite the history of the secret police force I expected.
The main part of the book talks about all the different groups the Gestapo targeted, both before & during WW2. i.e. Communists, Jews, Catholics, Homosexuals, etc and focuses on individual case studies of each group, which means you learn more about the history of the groups than about the Gestapo.
The book suggests that "ordinary" Germans had nothing to fear from the Gestapo (which it transpires was mainly staffed by pre-war police who had been transferred) who in general were nowhere near as numerous, omnipotent or aggressive as history would have us believe(?) Further it suggests that if it weren't for denunciations from the populace they would have struggled to persecute anyone(?)
However the closing chapter discusses war crimes trials & denazification. Here the book suggests the Gestapo were not adequately punished for their crimes, as a collective nor individually, which, for me, doesn't follow on from what had already been written.
I had wanted to learn more about the Gestapo, more than the groups they persecuted, so I was left feeling a bit shortchanged.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using archival Gestapo reports, Nuremberg trial transcripts and eyewitness reports Dr. McDonough wades through the layers of myths about the Gestapo to develop an interesting perspective humanizing them from the boogie man villains we usually think of to ordinary police men who acted despicably at times under the situations created by the Nazis. It hits home about how normal people can become corrupted when they have approval to behave badly. I could not help but think about Dr. Philip Zimbardo's "The Lucifer Effect" as I made my way thought this thoughtful and well-written book.

We live in desperate times today when we are beset on all sides by strife and dangers. It is important to understand that the people misbehaving are not monsters, as we would like to believe, but just ordinary people.

[Neil Spark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gestapo succeeded in instilling fear and creating the impression it was omniscient. Professor of International History at Liverpool John Moores University Frank McDonough has written an easy-to- read and well researched book. McDonough restricts his study to the Gestapo in Germany. He argues it wasn't a big organisation; if anything, understaffed and therefore unable to be proactive. He is not an apologist for the despicable organisation it was and he reveals interesting information.

[Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

Many facts, well presented. Just felt like an attempt at revisionist history. I will have to find corroboration from cited and non-cited sources. The verdict is still out...the Gestapo was not your neighborhood police force.

[Maria Bengtsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read numerous books of the horried Third Reich. But we must never forget. I am appalled though that in the end Gestapo never had to atone for all their horrific crimes against humanity.

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in parts - most effective was how this broke down the numbers and put the nature and the role of The Gestapo in context as a small and internally complicated organisation which by its nature exhibited a kind of coercive control over Nazi Germany. There were not a lot of secret police, it was not an organisation that persisted for decades (compare the East German Stasi and various departments established in the Soviet Union), there was even an extent to which it impacted the ordinary German citizen comparatively less than the populations of other police states were affected by their overseers. Some of the case studies and portraits of the important men involved in the formation and running of The Gestapo also made for educating reading.

But I just found it all a bit dry and a bit dense. For a relatively short book, it took quite a while to get through - putdownable less because of the less palatable events described than because it was chewy to read. As a reference, very good and very well-researched. As a book to sit and read through, maybe less so.

[Camilo Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro revelador sobre el origen y modo de operar de la Gestapo durante el tercer reich y como se vinculaba con las demás instituciones del estado alemán. En lo personal me parecieron muy valiosos los capítulos que abordan la secularización forzada realizada por los nazis contra los diferentes credos religiosos y el último capítulo que expone como es que, en el contexto de la guerra fría, muchísimos agentes de la gestapo en la epoca de la republica federal alemana, no fueron juzgados por los tribunales alemanes y terminaron sus vidas viviendo cómodamente a pesar de haber sido criminales y torturado a cientos de personas en los interrogatorios extendidos así como haberse encargado de la deportación de miles de familias hacia los campos de exterminio.

[Brian Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting study of the Gestapo from remaining source materials, which mainly covers routine police and investigative work. In that regard it's highly recommended and thorough in its coverage, and it's put me onto a few interesting titles and autobiographies for further research.

However, the one big criticism is that it is unable to describe in any real detail the relationship between the Gestapo and the concentration camps - apparently, because any such records were usually (intentionally) destroyed by Gestapo members at the end of the war, or (unintentionally) by allied bombers during it. So read with that key limitation in mind.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro não ficcional sobre aquela que foi uma das maiores organizações nazis. Exemplos e nomes reais de muitos dos que agiram e também dos que sofreram nas mãos destes.
A meu ver fica apenas por explicar mais a fundo o início e métodos utilizados, o que poderá estar relacionado com a destruição dos registos desta polícia.
Um livro que mais uma vez me dá aquele murro no estômago e me fez soltar diversas vezes um "Credo, meu Deus!" sentido com a maldade humana. Um livro que acaba com um capítulo de injustiça e a pior frase: "A Gestapo também nunca pagou.".

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot to say, the main problem is it says a lot of similar things several times throughout the book. You will learn a lot you didn’t know about how the Gestapo started and certain eye opening things they did. Wasn’t blown away, but also felt like a necessary read

[Christopher Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

84

[João Capelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aconselho a ler para ter conhecimento e enriquecimento do saber que também o povo alemão sofreu muito, com esta horrível e assassina polícia de Hitler.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Myth of the Gestapo

The Myth of the Gestapo is what this author refers to is the belief that the Gestapo was an ever present, brutal police organization. He states all a person had to do to avoid them was to simply follow the law. Not so easy in Nazi Germany.

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and enlightening study of Gestapo case notes and interviews. I couldn't avoid being glum at the fact that many of the worse officers escaped any real retribution after the war.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the evolution of history's most feared secret police.

Not for the faint of heart.

I read this EARC courtesy of Skyhorse Publ. and Edelweiss. Pub date 03/07/17

[Ilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The evil that was carried out by the people mentioned and the utter injustices as outcomes must surely have been perpetrated by no backbone politicians. There are (millions of) stones left unturned…

[Bethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

||: The Gestapo
The Myth and Reality of Hitler's Secret Police.
By Frank Mc Cdonough
Chapter 7 Page 213
Persecuting The Jews
3/5
🌟🌟🌟

{Gestapo officials contacted leaders of the local Jewish community, requesting them to prepare a list of deportees. Valierie Wolfenstein, the daughter of a Jewish architect, described how the process operated in Berlin: ‘The person's received a letter notifying them what day they were to be ready. 

They had to make a list of all their property and take it to the office of the Jewish community. The Gestapo delegated all the preliminary work to this office.’ Each deportee was then informed of the date and time of their deportation and assigned a number, but this letter often arrived just two days before departure.}

I found this book a little hard to read. When you are reading a book from a survivor, it's easy to feel proud and so much inspiration for that person, for being able to push past the Germans' hate for them. But this book really does shine a light on what it was like in the Gestapo, even though they are portrayed as evil and without rules.

The reality was that they did have a lot of laws to live by. Most of the cases were sent to a judge for his/her verdict and a lot of them.. well.. they were thrown out or dismissed. Some never saw their families ever again. Some were let off with a warning.

This book is not saying there were no techniques or torture involved, but some of the people that were in charge of that were evil enough to do more than actual torture. I learned so much more about what actually ʻhappened' during Germany in those desperate times.

How the Catholic community was targeted again and again but wouldn't give up. 
The Jehovas Witnesses would rather die than give up their faith.. and they did. 
And then .. there were the children who could be separated from their parents for excuses such as their parents being labelled ‘work shy.’

I would like to say those in command didn't get away with this.. but they did. The only conciliation prize is that this book does name real people with real stories and real strength of those who had their country's turn against them because their blood wasn't pure enough… And.. it tells us all of those who participated in the handling of people due to personal conflicts. :||

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful insight the Gestapo organisation, which went from a smaller police force to the scary and dreadful organisation which arrested and sent certain groups of people to concentration camps.

As other reviewers have pointed out, there were a few surprises in this book:
1) One surprise being that the Gestapo was constantly understaffed and relied on people in the general population snitching on other people.

2) Another being that certain Jews had certain privileges and were left alone for the most part, for example a Jewish person married to an Aryan person and having children together.

3) Thirdly that most Jews were left alone for the first couple of years that the Nazis were in power, as they were focused on other groups in societies, for example political enemies and undesirables such homosexuals and the long-term unemployed.

I also really enjoyed the attention to detail with concrete examples from people who interacted with the Gestapo, which made it even more real, especially when the fate of a person or persons remains unknown in the Gestapo files. It definitely makes you think even more about what has happened to them. Were they deported to prison or a concentration camp? Did they survive the war? Did they manage to escape Nazi Germany?

In the last chapter of the book, McDonough focuses on the fate of the Gestapo after the fall of the Third Reich where he gives a couple of examples from Denmark, which was occupied from 1940-1945 and very briefly mentions Werner Best without specific context.

Best was the top Nazi representative in Denmark and responsible for carrying out Nazi policies, including the deportation of Jews, especially after 1943 whereby a state of emergency was declared in Denmark.

A controversial figure in Danish and German history, I would have loved McDonough to further explore the Gestapo in occupied countries, such as Denmark and Norway, and how they compared to the Gestapo in Nazi Germany and Poland. Did they act the same? Did they have the same functions and responsibilities?