Gestapo

American  

[guh-stah-poh, guh-shtah-poh] / gəˈstɑ poʊ, gəˈʃtɑ poʊ /

noun

1. the German state secret police during the Nazi regime, organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations.

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adjective

1. (sometimes lowercase) of or resembling the Nazi Gestapo, especially in the brutal suppression of opposition.

   The new regime is using gestapo tactics.

Gestapo British  

/ ɡɛˈstɑːpəʊ, ɡeˈʃtaːpo /

noun

1. the secret state police in Nazi Germany, noted for its brutal methods of interrogation

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Gestapo Cultural  

1. The secret police of the Third Reich in Germany. The Gestapo operated against Germans suspected of treason by using brutal interrogation and torture; they instilled widespread fear by their terrorist methods.

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Discover More

Figuratively, any brutal secret police organization may be called a “gestapo.”

“Gestapo tactics” in general are intimidating official procedures.

Etymology

Origin of Gestapo

< German Ge ( heime ) Sta ( ats ) po ( lizei )

Example Sentences

Does anyone think it would have been a good idea to keep an allegedly “reformed” Gestapo in place as a postwar law enforcement agency?

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Gestapo agents arrived at the Berlin apartment of Countess Maria von Maltzan in 1943 after being tipped off by one of her neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Fraenkel chose to continue representing clients in the Berlin courts from the beginning of 1933 up until 1938, when he had to flee because he was targeted by the Gestapo.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

Once war broke out, an Anglican church with a British caretaker attracted numerous visits from the Gestapo.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024

In 1941, when the Gestapo arrested Karl for a different offense, the dismissal letter from the Hitler Youth was used against him as proof that he was not a loyal German.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti