14 Facts About Rudolf Diels

Rudolf Diels obtained the rank of SS-Oberfuhrer and was a protege of Hermann Goring.

Rudolf Diels served in the army towards the end of World War I and was posted in Haguenau, Alsace in an intelligence role.

Rudolf Diels joined the Prussian interior ministry in 1930 and was promoted to an advisory position in the Prussian police in 1932, targeting political radicals, both Communists and Nazis.

Rudolf Diels was head of the Prussian Political Police when Adolf Hitler came to power on 30 January 1933.

On 27 February 1933 the Reichstag fire occurred and Rudolf Diels was the main interrogator of the principal accused, Marinus van der Lubbe.

Rudolf Diels told Hitler he thought that the fire was set by this single man.

Rudolf Diels attracted the attention of political rivals, including SS chief Heinrich Himmler and his deputy, Reinhard Heydrich.

Concerned that Rudolf Diels was not ruthless enough to effectively counteract the power of the Sturmabteilung, Goring handed over control of the Gestapo to Himmler on 20 April 1934.

Effectively smeared, but with Goring's aid, Rudolf Diels narrowly avoided execution during the Night of the Long Knives at the end of June 1934, fleeing his post for five weeks.

Rudolf Diels was then appointed administrative president of Hannover in 1936.

Rudolf Diels maintained his association with Goring, marrying his cousin, Ilse Goring.

Rudolf Diels was later arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 after the 20 July Plot to assassinate Hitler and imprisoned, but survived.

Rudolf Diels presented an affidavit for the prosecution at the Nuremberg trials, but was summoned to testify by Goring's defense lawyer.

Rudolf Diels died on 18 November 1957 when his rifle accidentally discharged while he was hunting.