Affidavit on the organization of the security police (Gestapo and Kripo) and security service (SD), the number of officers in 1943-45, and their overlapping roles

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Authors

Walter Schellenberg (Gestapo, RSHA; Brigade-Fuehrer, Waffen SS)

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Walter Schellenberg

German police and SS general, head of the military secret services and convicted war criminal (1910-1952)

Walther Schellenberg i 1943
  • Born: 1910-01-16 (Saarbrücken)
  • Died: 1952-03-31 (Turin)
  • Country of citizenship: Germany
  • Occupation: lawyer; military personnel; politician; writer
  • Member of political party: Nazi Party
  • Member of: Corps Guestphalia et Suevoborussia Marburg; Schutzstaffel
  • Participant in: Judges' Trial (date: 1947-02-10; role: affiant); Nuremberg Medical Trial (date: 1947-02-07; role: affiant)
  • Significant person: Günther Joël; Rudolf Brandt (role: acquaintance; since: 1939-01-01)

Date: 21 November 1945

Total Pages: 1

Language of Text: English

Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)

Evidence Code: PS-3033

Citation: IMT (page 1907)

HLSL Item No.: 451637

Trial Issues

Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Administration & organization (all cases)

Document Summary

Staff Evidence Analyses

PS-3033: Sworn statement by Walter Schellenberg on the nature of SIPO and SD

Red Series Doc Descriptions

PS-3033: Composition of and number of members in the security police and the Sd, 21 November 1945: use of the term "Sd Gestapo uniforms; voluntary nature of new membership in Gestapo and Sd

I, Walter Schellenberg, being sworn, declare:
The "Sipo and SD" were composed of the Gestapo, Kripo and SD. In 1943^45 the Gestapo had a membership of about 40,000 to 50,000; the Kripo had a membership of about 15,000; and the SD had a membership of about 3,000. In common usage, and even in orders and decrees the term "SD" was used as an abbreviation
741
3033-PS
3033—PS
for the term "SIPO and SD". In most such cases actual executive action was carried out by personnel of the Gestapo rather than of the SD or the Kripo. In occupied territories members of the Gestapo frequently wore SS uniforms with SD insignia. New members of the Gestapo and the SD were taken on a voluntary basis. This has been stated and sworn to by me today the 21st day of November 1945.
/s/ Walter Schellenberg.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of November 1945 in Nürnberg, Germany.
/s/ Whitney R. Harris Lt. USNR.