The establishment of the Gestapo occurred in the context of the Nazi regime's consolidation of power following the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. Hermann Göring was a key figure in this process, seeking to create a formidable state apparatus to suppress dissent and enforce Nazi ideology. The Gestapo was formed from elements of the Prussian political police, integrating various police forces to create a centralized agency that operated outside the normal legal frameworks.

The Gestapo's primary function was to surveil, arrest, and eliminate individuals considered threats to the Nazi state, including Communists, Socialists, and Jews. Under Göring's leadership, it gained broad powers to carry out investigations, conduct raids, and arrest suspected opposition members without the need for judicial oversight. This power was derived both from legal frameworks enacted by the Nazis and from the climate of fear that permeated the society.

By employing informants and undercover agents, the Gestapo monitored the population closely, which instilled a pervasive sense of fear. The organization was especially active during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, where it played a crucial role in eliminating rival factions within the Nazi Party. The Gestapo's activities were instrumental in cementing Nazi control over Germany and contributed significantly to the regime's oppressive tactics that would lead to widespread human rights violations and the implementation of the Holocaust.