Protective Custody

Then came what was known as "protective custody" (Schutzhaft). It was introduced by the Law of February and it resulted in arbitrary arrest and detention without trial in the interest of State security As it was alleged that State security was involved, no one protested at the arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention without trial, and this was accepted without protest throughout Germany Victims of these laws were conveniently forgotten Immediately after and as a consequence there followed the introduction by people such as Theodor Eicke of death head units and the establishment of camps, such as Dachau, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, Rawensbreuck (for women), Mauthausen, Auschwitz. Belsen and Treblinka.

On reading some of the concentration camp regulations, one of these drawn up by Theodor Eicke at Dachau, reads: