Julius Schreck

Julius Schreck (13 July 1898 – 16 May 1936) was a German Nazi official and close confidant of Adolf Hitler. Born in Munich, Schreck served in World War I and shortly afterwards joined right-wing paramilitary units. He joined the Nazi Party in 1920 and was a founding member of the ''Sturmabteilung'' ("Storm Detachment"; SA). Later in 1925, he became the first leader of the ''Schutzstaffel'' ("Protection Squadron"; SS). He then served for a time as a chauffeur for Hitler. Schreck developed meningitis in 1936 and died on 16 May of that year. Hitler gave him a state funeral.

Early life

Julius Schreck was born on 13 July 1898 in Munich in Bavaria. He served in the German Army during World War I. After the war ended, Schreck became an early member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party; NSDAP), having joined in 1920 and documented as member No. 53. Schreck developed a friendship with the party's leader Adolf Hitler during its early years.

Career in the SA

Schreck was a founding member of the ''Sturmabteilung'' ("Storm Detachment"; SA), being involved in its growth and development. This was a paramilitary wing of the party designed to disrupt political opponents and provide muscle for security tasks. Hitler, in early 1923, ordered the formation of a small separate bodyguard dedicated to his service and protection rather than an uncontrolled mass of the party, such as the SA. Originally the unit was composed of only eight men, commanded by Schreck and Joseph Berchtold. It was designated the ''Stabswache'' ("Staff Guard"). The ''Stabswache'' were issued unique badges, but at this point the ''Stabswache'' was still under overall control of the SA, whose membership continued to increase. Schreck resurrected the use of the '' Totenkopf'' ("death's head") as the unit's insignia, a symbol various elite forces had used in the past, including specialized assault troops of Imperial Germany in World War I who used '' Hutier'' infiltration tactics.

In May 1923, the unit was renamed '' Stoßtrupp-Hitler'' ("Shock Troop-Hitler"). The unit was solely responsible for Hitler's personal protection. On 9 November 1923 the ''Stoßtrupp'', along with the SA and several other paramilitary units, took part in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. The plan was to seize control of the city in a coup d'état and then challenge the government in Berlin. The putsch was quickly crushed by the local police. In the aftermath of the failed putsch both Hitler, Schreck, and other Nazi leaders were incarcerated for treason at Landsberg Prison. The Nazi Party and all associated formations, including the ''Stoßtrupp'', were officially disbanded.

Career in the SS

After Hitler's release from prison on 20 December 1924, the Nazi Party was officially refounded. In 1925, Hitler ordered Schreck to organise the formation of a new bodyguard unit, the ''Schutzkommando'' ("Protection Command"). Hitler wanted a small group of tough ex-soldiers such as Schreck, who would be loyal to him. The unit included old ''Stoßtrupp'' members such as Emil Maurice and Erhard Heiden. The unit made its first public appearance in April 1925. That same year, the ''Schutzkommando'' was expanded to a national level. It was also successively renamed the ''Sturmstaffel'' ("Storm Squadron") and then finally the ''Schutzstaffel'' ("Protection Squadron"; SS) on 9 November 1925. Schreck became SS member #5. He was asked by Hitler to command the bodyguard company. Schreck never referred to himself as ''Reichsführer-SS'', but the title was retroactively applied to him in later years.

In 1926, Schreck stood down as commander of the SS and Berchtold took over the leadership. Berchtold changed the title of the office position, which became known as the ''Reichsführer-SS''. Schreck remained on the SS rolls as an SS-''Führer'' and worked as Hitler's private chauffeur after Maurice until 1934. In 1930, after the SS had begun to expand under Heinrich Himmler, Schreck was appointed an SS-'' Standartenführer'', but had little actual power. He continued to serve at Hitler's side and they were on very good terms.

Death

Schreck continued as Hitler's personal driver until 1936. That spring Schreck developed meningitis and died on 16 May in Munich. He was a well-liked man and Hitler was distraught when Schreck died. His final rank was SS-''Brigadeführer'', a rank equivalent to that of a ''Generalmajor'' in the ''Wehrmacht''. Schreck was accorded a Nazi state funeral. Himmler referred to him as "Adolf Hitler's first SS man".

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schreck, Julius
1898 births
1936 deaths
20th-century Freikorps personnel
Chauffeurs of Adolf Hitler
Deaths from meningitis
German Army personnel of World War I
Nazi Party officials
Nazis who participated in the Beer Hall Putsch
Nazis convicted of crimes
Military personnel from Munich
People from the Kingdom of Bavaria
Reichsführer-SS
Sturmabteilung officers
People convicted of treason against Germany