Heinz Jost Prominent party, state and military figure of Nazi Germany, SS Brigadefuhrer Date of Birth: 09.07.1904 Country: Germany

1. Heinz Jost: A Biography
2. Early Political Career
3. Rise in Power and SS Membership
4. High-Ranking Positions and War Crimes
5. Post-War Life

Heinz Jost: A Biography

Heinz Jost was a prominent political, state, and military figure in Nazi Germany. Born in a pharmacist's family in Holzhausen, now a commune in Homburg, Hesse, he attended high school in Bensheim and passed his exams in 1923. At the age of 17, he started attending lectures and studied law and economics at the universities of Giessen and Munich. In 1922, he became a member of the Jungdeutscher Orden (Young German Order) and left the organization in 1923 as a supporter of the NSDAP.

Early Political Career

Since 1927, Jost had close ties with the NSDAP and in May 1927, he passed the referendary exam after studying at the university. He officially joined the NSDAP on February 1, 1928, and held various positions within the party. In 1929, he became a member of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and commanded I/221 in Bensheim until 1933. He was promoted to Obersturmbannführer of the SA and served as the liaison between the German Labor Front (DAF) and the SA at the University of Giessen. In 1930, he passed the assessor exam and established his own law practice in Lorsch.

Rise in Power and SS Membership

After the Nazis came to power, Jost was appointed as the police director of Worms from March 15, 1933, and later of Giessen from September 1933. During this period, he became acquainted with Werner Best, who convinced him to join the SD. In early 1934, after a conflict with the Gauleiter of Hesse-Nassau, Jakob Sprenger, Jost was removed from his position. On July 25, 1934, he switched from the SA to the SS. From July 28, 1934, he served as a Sturmbannführer in the SD, and from April 20, 1935, he became an Obersturmbannführer in the SS.

High-Ranking Positions and War Crimes

In 1936, Jost became the head of Department III in the main office of the SD (Abwehr). He was promoted to Standartenführer on April 20, 1936, and to Oberführer on April 20, 1937. In 1938, as the commander of Einsatzgruppe Dresden operating in occupied Czechoslovakia, he gained his first experience organizing mass killings. On April 20, 1939, he was promoted to Brigadeführer in the SS and Major General of the Police.

During World War II, Jost was involved in various military activities. In August 1939, he was responsible for providing Polish uniforms for SS personnel involved in the Gleiwitz incident. From September 27, 1939, to June 22, 1941, he served as the head of Department VI in the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA). However, he was dismissed due to serious financial violations. In the fall of 1941, he was sent to the headquarters of the "Caucasus" operation. From February 1942 until early September 1942, he commanded the SD and ZAPO Ostland. From March 29, 1942, he led Einsatzgruppe A in Riga and commanded the Security Police and SD of Ostland, replacing Walter Stahlecker, who was killed by partisans. He held this position until September 8, 1942 when he was appointed as the representative of the Ministry for the Eastern Territories in Army Group A.

Post-War Life

In January 1945, Jost was discharged from the SS and retired. However, he was arrested by the Allies in April 1945 and sent to a camp. In 1948, he stood trial in the 9th process and was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. He was released in December 1951 and went on to engage in real estate trading in Düsseldorf.