Julius Schreck

Julius Schreck (13 July 1898 – 16 May 1936) was a senior Nazi official and close confidant of Adolf Hitler.

Born on 13 July 1898 in Munich, Schreck served in World War I and shortly afterwards joined right-wing paramilitary units. He joined the Nazi Party in 1920 and developed a close friendship with Adolf Hitler. Schreck was a founding member of the Sturmabteilung ("Storm Department"; SA) and was active in its development. Later in 1925, he became the first leader of the Schutzstaffel ("Protection Squadron"; SS). He then served for a time as a chauffeur for Hitler. Schreck developed meningitis in 1936 and died on 16 May. Hitler gave him a state funeral which was attended by several members of the Nazi elite with Hitler delivering the eulogy.

Early life

Julius Schreck was born on 13 July 1898 in Munich, a largely Catholic city in Bavaria. He served in the German Army during World War I. After the war ended in November 1918, he became a member of Freikorps Epp, a right-wing paramilitary unit formed to combat the communistic revolution. Schreck was an early member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party; NSDAP), having joined in 1920 and documented as member #53. Schreck developed a friendship with the party's leader Adolf Hitler during its early years.