Page "Heinrich Himmler" Paragraph 29

Himmler and Heydrich wanted to extend the power of the SS ; thus, they urged Hitler to form a national police force overseen by the SS, to guard Nazi Germany against its many enemies at the time — real and imagined.

Interior Minister Frick also wanted a national police force, but one controlled by him, with Kurt Daluege as his police chief.

Hitler left it to Himmler and Heydrich to work out the arrangements with Frick.

Himmler and Heydrich had greater bargaining power, as they were allied with Frick's old enemy, Göring.

Heydrich drew up a set of proposals and Himmler sent him to meet with Frick.

An angry Frick then consulted with Hitler, who told him to agree to the proposals.

Frick acquiesced, and on 17 June 1936 Hitler appointed Himmler as Chief of German Police and decreed the unification of all police forces.

In this role, Himmler was still nominally subordinate to Frick, but the de facto power was now in the hands of Himmler.

This move gave Himmler operational control over Germany's entire detective force.

He also gained authority over all of Germany's uniformed law enforcement agencies, which were amalgamated into the new Ordnungspolizei ( Orpo: " order police "), which became a branch of the SS under Daluege.