what was the gestapo?
The Gestapo was the secret police of the Nazi state. The term âGestapoâ is an acronym which derives from the German Geheimstaatspolizei, or Secret State Police. Along with the Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Kriminalpolizei (Kripo), and Ordnungspolizei (Orpo), the Gestapo formed an important part of the extensive Nazi police organization. It was responsible for combatting counter-espionage and criminal actions against both the State and the Nazi Party.