Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Germany's FBI Faces Up to Nazi Roots

Security service's founders were behind thousands of deaths

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 2, 2007 4:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – The German equivalent of the FBI has acknowledged what everyone already knew: It was founded by Nazis. The agency is inviting historians to explore those dark roots, making it the first German security organization to do so, Der Spiegel reports. Owning up to the past is the only way to “live democracy with conviction each day,” says the organization's head.

After the Third Reich’s fall, West Germany had few experienced security personnel untainted by the Nazi machine, so intelligence agencies recruited heavily from the likes of the SS and Gestapo. Most of those operatives remained in the ranks for decades, and an ongoing series of conferences is allowing an unprecedented look at their legacy.

Due to lack of experienced personnel, many founding members of West Germany's federal police organization were formerly prominent members of the Nazi party. Now, the current head of the organization wants to explore that influence.
Due to lack of experienced personnel, many founding members of West Germany's federal police organization were formerly prominent members of the Nazi party. Now, the current head of the organization wants...   (Shutterstock.com)
Jörg Ziercke, the President of the Federal Criminal Police Force, Germany's equivalent to the FBI, hopes for greater openness about the history of his organization.
Jörg Ziercke, the President of the Federal Criminal Police Force, Germany's equivalent to the FBI, hopes for greater openness about the history of his organization.   (Getty Images)
The German Federal Criminal Police Office, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), has launched a series of conferences to delve into the Nazi involvement in its own origins.
The German Federal Criminal Police Office, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), has launched a series of conferences to delve into the Nazi involvement in its own origins.   (Wikimedia Commons)
The recruitment of Nazi officers into the emerging security apparatus of West Germany after World War II is a publicly-known fact, due to a lack of personnel with the relevant experience who hadn't been involved in the Nazi war machine.
The recruitment of Nazi officers into the emerging security apparatus of West Germany after World War II is a publicly-known fact, due to a lack of personnel with the relevant experience who hadn't been...   (Public Domain)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Reprint Mein Kampf , Urge German Jews

Berlin Opens Hitler's 'Future City' Tunnels

Ex-Nazi, 90, Starts Life Sentence

Secret Nazi Codes Litter Germany

No. 3 Most-Wanted Nazi Escapes Extradition


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne