Reinhard Heydrich

Heydrich was not so accomplished a hypocrite as his ardently beloved SS leader. Although Heydrich preferred brutal, straightforward struggle with his foes, he was nevertheless the real ideologist of the SS....When Heydrich oppressed, he did so for reasons of discipline. When Heydrich blackmailed, he did so in the name of socialism. When Heydrich tortured, it was to purify the vicitm. When Heydrich murdered, he acted in the interests of justice. To be German meant, …

…e former excesses of power and tried to take back his hatred, his self-assertion, and his contempt for mankind has at least some psychological probability. Hitler once demanded that as National Socialists 'We must regain our clear conscience as to ruthlessness',(43) but Heydrich had not this clear conscience, nor the iron heart which Hitler extolled after his death. Himmler undoubtedly knew him well: it was his opinion that Heydrich was 'at bottom an unhappy man'.(44)