Wilhelm Frick

Wilhelm Frick (1877-1946) was an early Nazi who took part in the Beer Hall Putsch, had an important Party role as it rose into government, and rose to Reich Minister of the Interior of Nazi Germany. He had been responsible for the German police, until Heinrich Himmler gained effective control. Later, he was the last Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. He was executed by order of the Trial of the Major War Criminals.

His indictment at Nuremberg said,

Frick's important contribution to the Nazi conspiracy was in the field of government administration. He was the administrative brain who organized the German state for Nazism and who geared the machinery of the state for aggressive war. It was Frick who transformed the plans and programs of his fellow conspirators into political action. He was the manager of the Nazi conspiracy. He was entrusted with broad discretion, exercised great power, and knew the criminal purpose of the acts he committed.

Before 1923, he had been a Munich police officer and a spy for the Nazis. He took part in the Beer Hall Putsch. At the time of the putsch, he was a deputy to the Munich police commissioner, and had assured Hitler that they would not intervene.

In 1931, according to William Shirer, he was "colorless" but also one of Adolf Hitler's five top followers, and was the first Nazi to achieve provincial office as Minister of the Interior of Thuringia. He was leader of the Nazis in the Reichstag, and, with a low-keyed style and good manners, was effective in dealing with government officials.

After the 1933 elections, after being appointed Interior Minister, he drafted the Enabling Act, passed by the Reichstag to give Hitler dictatorial powers and end the Weimar Republic. He was also responsible for creating the Nuremberg Laws, and administering the Nazi sterilization program.