A high-ranking SS officer and jurist who played a key role in the Nazi regime's brutal occupation of Denmark during World War II, overseeing the deportation of Danish Jews.
Werner Best, a German jurist and police chief, is notoriously known for being the first chief of Department 1 of the Gestapo, Nazi Germany's secret police, and for initiating a registry of all Jews in Germany. As a deputy of Reinhard Heydrich, he played a pivotal role in organizing the World War II Einsatzgruppen, paramilitary death squads responsible for carrying out mass murder in Nazi-occupied territories.
Best was born on July 10, 1903, in Darmstadt, Hesse, to a postmaster father who was killed in France at the outset of World War I. His family moved to Dortmund and later settled in Mainz, where he completed his education. Between 1921 and 1925, he studied law at Frankfurt, Freiburg, Giessen, and the University of Heidelberg, earning his doctorate in 1927.
Best's involvement in politics began early, founding the German National Youth League and joining the National People's Party of Mainz. In 1930, he joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) and by 1931, before the Nazis assumed power, he was already a member of the SS. His political resistance activities against the French occupation of the Ruhr led to his arrest and brief imprisonment.
In 1931, he was forced out of judicial service in the German federal state of Hesse following the discovery of the Boxheim Documents, which were blueprints for a Nazi putsch he had written. This event marked the beginning of his rapid rise within the Nazi party.
During World War II, Best served in the German military occupation administration of France (1940-1942) and later became the civilian administrator of occupied Denmark (1942-1945). His role in organizing the Einsatzgruppen and his involvement in the occupation of Denmark led to his conviction of war crimes in Denmark.
Released from prison in 1951, Best campaigned for an amnesty for Nazi war criminals and against the abolition of the statute of limitations. He escaped further prosecution in West Germany in 1972 due to ill health and died in 1989, aged 85.
Best's theoretical work on the concept of "police science" and his writings on the role of police in the Nazi state provide insight into the ideologies that justified the Gestapo's brutal methods. His beliefs on the importance of a centralized police force and the need for a "total police state" influenced the development of the Nazi regime's policing policies.
Werner Best's legacy is marked by his role in perpetuating the Nazi regime's atrocities and his contributions to the development of the Gestapo's repressive policies. His conviction and subsequent campaigns for amnesty highlight the complexities of denazification and the challenges of holding war criminals accountable.
Despite his controversial past, Best's life and work serve as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of upholding human rights and dignity.
Born in 1900
Leading the SS and Gestapo, he oversaw the Nazi regime's brutal security apparatus and implemented the "Final Solution," orchestrating the genocide of six million Jews during World War II.
Born in 1904
A high-ranking Nazi official and chief architect of the Holocaust, responsible for implementing the "Final Solution" that led to the murder of six million Jews and millions of others during World War II.
Born in 1906
A high-ranking Nazi officer responsible for organizing the logistics of the Holocaust, overseeing the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps during World War II.
Born in 1894
A high-ranking Nazi official who flew to Scotland on a solo mission to negotiate peace with the UK, but was instead arrested and imprisoned.
Born in 1893
A German diplomat who served as the Nazi regime's Foreign Minister, orchestrating key alliances and treaties that led to World War II. He was a close associate of Adolf Hitler and played a crucial role in shaping Nazi foreign policy.
Born in 1893
A high-ranking Nazi official, he was a decorated World War I fighter pilot and later became a prominent politician, serving as Minister President of Prussia. He's infamous for his role in the Nazi regime and war crimes trials.
Born in 1897
A mastermind of Nazi propaganda, he crafted a persuasive narrative that fueled the Third Reich's rise to power, leaving a lasting impact on the world.
Born in 1903
Austrian-German lawyer and general who served as the highest-ranking leader of the Nazi police forces, responsible for overseeing the Gestapo, SS, and concentration camps during World War II. He was a key figure in the Holocaust and other atrocities committed by the Nazi regime.
