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Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler was the second
most powerful Nazi leader after Hitler. Born on October 7, 1900 in Munich, Germany,
he was the son of a Catholic schoolmaster. Himmler got a degree in agriculture
and became a 
chicken
farmer. He married his wife, Margret Boden, in 1926. After World War 1, he joined
Reichskriegsflagge, a militant rightist organization. In 1923, he took part
in Hitler Putsch, an attempt to overthrow the government. In 1925, Himmler joined
the Nazi party and became one of Hitler’s earliest followers. He became
one of Hitler’s most loyal men. He quickly 
moved
up in ranks and became the Nazi party’s police chief. Himmler became devoted
to the SS which served as Hitler’s personal guard. Also he was in control
of the Gestapo. He overlooked the concentration camps and death centers. Hitler
ordered him to carry out the destruction of the Jews. At first mass shootings
were attempted, but he found the most efficient way to eradicate the Jews would
be the poisonous gasses. With the power bestowed upon him, he felt he was powerless.
In 1944, Himmler was placed in charge of the German army in an act of desperation
when they were about to face the American Army. In 1945 he was moved to the
East.
At the end of the war Himmler made an attempt to negotiate peace with the World
Jewish Congress, but failed. When Hitler found out he ordered his arrest. He
then tried to flee disguised as a Gendarmerie, a French police officer, but
was caught and was forced to admit his identity. He was about to go on trial
when he bit down on a cyanide capsule, committed suicide, and died on May 22,
1945.
Bibliography:
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Holocaust/himmler.htmlhttp://www.holocaust-history.org/short-essays/heinrich-himmler.shtml
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Himmler
http://www.joric.com/Conspiracy/Himmler.htm
Images courtesy http://www.ushmm.org