Heinrich Himmler Multiple Choice Quiz | German

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Heinrich Himmler was amongst the most powerful members of the Third Reich. His job was one of immense importance to the Nazi regime and was a role which terrified millions of Germans, particularly the 'undesirables.' Which of the following did he control?

Answer: Gestapo

Amongst other things, Heinrich Himmler was in charge of the Gestapo. The Gestapo were the secret police who protected the Nazi party from any conspirators who were planning to overthrow them. The population feared the Gestapo as they were ruthless in their means of obtaining information.

They prowled about in the early hours of the morning, usually about 03:00am, and dragged suspects out of their homes and incarcerated them without trial. Himmler was also in charge of the SS or Schutzstaffel. This included branches such as the Death's Head units that ran the concentration camps, such as Belsen and Auschwitz.

The SS also implemented the Holocaust.

2. Which of the following subjects did Himmler study between the years 1919 and 1922?

Answer: Agriculture

A subject that one wouldn't generally connect with Himmler. He began his agricultural studies in Munich after illness led to the cessation of a work placement on a farm.

His schooling (at the counterpart of a traditional grammar school) had, however, stressed Latin and Greek.

3. Himmler also took part in many extracurricular hobbies including philately and learning to play the harpsichord. He had a passion for a well known board game. Which?

Answer: Chess

Himmler was known as a good chess player and there are parallels drawn between his view of chess and what would later be his view on world politics and ultimately the domination of world politics. He believed that the two players in the game of chess represented two nations where the strongest and smartest would win.

4. Heinrich's father, Joseph, pushed for the future Nazi to keep a diary. From it, a lot can be learned about his personality such as how he documented his struggle with women from an early age. Another frequent topic written about in his diary was religion. There is much dispute over what religion Himmler belong to, but, what religion was he brought up believing?

Answer: Roman Catholicism

In his diaries he proclaimed that he was a devout Catholic during his younger years. He was brought up by his religious mother, Anna Maria, who was a devout Catholic. He also stated he would never leave the church. In reality, Himmler was connected to student fraternities which held what are described as 'Aryan-related' beliefs.

5. Himmler married Margarete Siegroth in 1928 and had their only child one year later in 1929. What did he name this child?

Answer: Gudrun

The name of Himmler's child was Gudrun, but, he usually referred to her as P�ppi, which is the German equivalent of the English term of endearment, 'Poppet'. (Oddly enough, this nickname was widely known to the public). He absolutely admired his daughter but P�ppi was the only child within the family to receive his attention. Margarete adopted a son about whom Himmler couldn't care less.
Heinrich and Margarete parted in 1940, by which time World War II had begun. He also fathered two illegitimate children whom he had through his mistress, Hedwig Potthast.

6. Heinrich Himmler helped orchestrate the planning and execution of what is now known as the Holocaust. Whilst in the city of Pozna�, how did Himmler describe the process of exterminating the Jews?

Answer: A small matter

This is the sort of comment that you may expect to come out of any Nazi when referring to Jews and the 'Final Solution'. In what is now known as the Posen speech he spoke to other SS officers about the concentration camps and he coldly let out a laugh while saying, "A small matter."

7. Towards the final years of the war, Himmler's mental state was under much scrutiny. He wrote to the then general, Dwight Eisenhower, proclaiming that he was going to defect and turn over the German government if he was spared punishment as an alleged war criminal. Furthermore, he applied - unbelievably -for a job in a post-war German government. What position did he say he wanted?

Answer: Minister for Police

With a worsening state of mental health, Himmler believed that if he gave himself and the leading Nazis up he would be spared the consequences of his infamous behaviour. Of course, Eisenhower was having none of it and wanted no part in Himmler's plans and attempts at evading his punishment.

He was named as a war criminal and when caught was meant to face the trials in Nuremberg, incidentally the city in Bavaria where the annual Nazi mass rallies had been held.

8. Himmler used another method as an attempt to escape capture. This time he headed for Karl D�nitz's government in Flensburg in North Germany. He travelled in disguise and stated that he was a sergeant-major in a secret military police branch. He shaved off his moustache and changed his surname. What else did he do?

Answer: Wore an eye-patch

As crazy as it sounds, Himmler wore an eye-patch. This really does indicate his desperation and well, determination to not lose. It seemed like this was still a game of chess to him and was desperate not to get into a state of checkmate. He was adamant he was not going to be discovered.
He changed his name to Heinrich Hitzinger and had all of the papers to prove it. That was to be his ultimate downfall.
Himmler was believed to have had a scar on his face since a young age and therefore, deliberately scarring his face would be an incorrect answer.

9. When Heinrich finally knew his time was up, he was making preparations for his death. Did he kill his daughter like many other Nazis, including Joseph Goebbels?

Answer: No

No, he didn't kill his daughter. Gudrun was sent to jails around Germany along with her mother and struggled to exist after her release. In 1999, she gave an interview in which she declared undying faith in her father and wanted to travel to America to 'clear his name'.

10. Many SS members stored capsules of poisonous substances in fake teeth so that if captured alive they could commit suicide. Heinrich chose to use them in his suicide. What was the poison contained in the capsule?

Answer: Potassium Cyanide

The capsules contained the lethal poison of potassium cyanide. It is believed that SS members snapped the cap on a fake teeth, removed the poisonous capsule and ingested it. There are various other theories about how Himmler died - none of them really plausible.

Source: Author jonnowales

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Heinrich Himmler Trivia Quiz

This is quiz number two in the series of five quizzes on influential Nazi characters. Next up, Heinrich Himmler. Enjoy!

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