Sicherheitspolizei (SIPO) and Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Paris

Collection

Holding institution (official language):: Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im. Emanuela Ringelbluma

Postal address:: Archiwum, Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im. E. Ringelbluma, ul. Tłomackie 3/5, 00-090 Warszawa

Title (official language):: Sicherheitspolizei (SIPO) und Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Paris

Creator/accumulator:: Security Police and Security Service, Paris [Sicherheitspolizei (SIPO) und Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Paris]

Extent:: 785 archival units (850 items – some files include several documents) (2.0 linear metres)

Scope and content:: The collection includes 785 personal files from the Paris headquarters of the German Security Police (Sipo) and Security Service (SD) for the area of occupied France (Der Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD im Bereich der Militärbefehlshabers in Frankreich), containing correspondence with branches in other French cities regarding the confiscation of Jewish property. The reports sent to Paris contain very detailed lists of valuables being looted, i.e. cash (always listing the exact amount), jewellery, watches, radio sets and gramophones.

Attached to the lists are letters mentioning the sale of valuables, noting the sums "taken" and sending the cash thus obtained to Berlin. Detailed reports sometimes contain information that, for example, secured radio sets can be shipped rather than being cashed in, that some of them require repair or that things of value cannot always be monetised because no decision has been taken on the matter yet. Personal files usually contain 3-5 pages. All the documentation is in German.

Archival history:: In 1945, the Polish Army and the Public Security Office took over three archives of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) in Lower Silesia. Some of the documents were transferred from the Archives of the Ministry of Public Security to the Central Archives of the Ministry of the Interior, from where they were probably gradually transferred to various archives. The materials concerning Jewish matters were probably transferred to the Jewish Historical Institute in the 1970s; the circumstances of their transfer are not known.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Sicherheitspolizei (Sipo) was the German security police, established in 1936 by Heinrich Himmler in agreement with Hitler. It was created from the merger of the Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo) and Kriminalpolizei (Kripo). On 17 June 1936, Himmler was appointed head of the Deutsche Polizei. From 1939, the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) or the SS Security Service, headed by Reinhard Heydrich, and Sipo were merged into the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA), one of twelve SS offices.

Sipo was responsible for internal security, i.e. supervision and control over political opponents (Marxists, communists), Jews, freemasons and clergy. The SD dealt with various tasks related to the security of the Reich and security in the conquered territories. One of its main tasks was to combat the resistance movement. The SD also took part in the destruction of the Jewish population and intelligentsia in the occupied territories, commanding the Einsatzgruppen units. Both formations (Sipo and SD) had extensive powers and used violence in the form of torture and executions .

Subject terms:: Correspondence; Holocaust; Law enforcement; Law enforcement--Police; Plunder

System of arrangement:: The collection is arranged alphabetically (but not systematically).

Finding aids:: A card inventory is available in the Jewish Historical Institute reading room.

Yerusha Network member:: The Taube Department of Jewish Studies of the University of Wrocław

Author of the description:: Monika Taras; The Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute; May 2020