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Heinz GrafeOne of the leaders of the German imperial security agencies, SS Obersturmbannführer.
Date of Birth: 15.07.1908
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Otto Rasch: A Notorious Figure in Nazi Germany's Security Apparatus
- Career in the SS
- Gestapo and SD Service
- Role in the Holocaust
- Later Career
- End of Life
Otto Rasch: A Notorious Figure in Nazi Germany's Security Apparatus
Early Life and EducationOtto Rasch was born into the family of a bookseller in Leipzig, Germany. He received his doctorate in law from the University of Leipzig and eventually became a member of the student group "Steel Helmet" in his hometown.
Career in the SS
In 1933, Rasch joined the security service of the SS (Schutzstaffel). He quickly rose through the ranks, assuming the position of deputy chief of the Gestapo (secret police) in Kiel in 1935.
Gestapo and SD Service
Two years later, Rasch was transferred to Tilsit in East Prussia, where he became the head of the local Gestapo detachment. In March 1938, he was promoted to Inspector of Security Police and SD for the Northeast region and also became the leader (Führer) of the SD-Oberabschnitt "Nord-Ost."
Role in the Holocaust
With the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Rasch was appointed to lead Einsatzkommando 1 within Einsatzgruppe V, a special unit responsible for exterminating Jews and other undesirables in Poland.
Later Career
Rasch's involvement in the Holocaust and other atrocities earned him notoriety and infamy. He continued to serve in various high-ranking positions within the Nazi security apparatus until the end of the war.
End of Life
After the German defeat in 1945, Rasch was captured by the Allies and tried at the Nuremberg Trials. He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on 21 September 1946.
