secret police
die Geheimpolizei, die Geheimpolizeien
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secret police
A state police organization that operates in secret and especially monitors and persecutes political opponents of the government.
Die Geheimpolizei überwachte die Opposition und verhaftete zahlreiche Regierungskritiker.
The secret police monitored the opposition and arrested numerous government critics.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Geheimpolizeien |
| genitive | der Geheimpolizei |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Geheimpolizei | die Geheimpolizeien |
| accusative | die Geheimpolizei | die Geheimpolizeien |
| dative | der Geheimpolizei | den Geheimpolizeien |
| genitive | der Geheimpolizei | der Geheimpolizeien |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Geheimpolizei' (secret police) is made up of 'geheim' (secret) and 'Polizei' (police). The component 'geheim' (secret) helps you associate the word with covert operations and information that is not public.
Niemand wusste, dass sein Nachbar für die Geheimpolizei arbeitete.
No one knew that his neighbor worked for the secret police.
Common collocations include 'für die Geheimpolizei arbeiten' (to work for the secret police), 'ins Visier der Geheimpolizei geraten' (to come under the secret police's scrutiny), and 'von der Geheimpolizei überwacht werden' (to be monitored by the secret police). The expression with 'ins Visier geraten' (to come under scrutiny) emphasizes that the organization begins to take an interest in someone.
Nach der Veröffentlichung ihres Artikels geriet die Journalistin ins Visier der Geheimpolizei.
After publishing her article, the journalist came under the secret police's scrutiny.
You will encounter this word especially in historical and political reports about dictatorships and authoritarian states. It has strongly negative connotations and is often used in connection with state violence and a lack of civil rights.
Der Bericht beschreibt die Rolle der Geheimpolizei während der Diktatur.
The report describes the role of the secret police during the dictatorship.
