state security
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state security
A special police department responsible for preventing threats to the state and its constitution. It investigates politically motivated crimes such as terrorism, extremism, and espionage.
Nach den Drohungen gegen den Politiker hat der Staatsschutz die Ermittlungen übernommen.
After the threats against the politician, state security took over the investigation.
The word is made up of 'Staat' (state) and 'Schutz' (protection). So it literally describes the protection of the state and its democratic constitutional order.
Die Aufgabe des Staatsschutzes ist es, die Sicherheit des Staates zu gewährleisten.
The task of state security is to ensure the security of the state.
'Staatsschutz' (state security) is often used with verbs that describe investigative work. Common combinations are 'der Staatsschutz ermittelt' (state security is investigating), 'den Staatsschutz einschalten' (to call in state security), or 'der Staatsschutz übernimmt den Fall' (state security takes over the case).
Bei Verdacht auf einen Terroranschlag wird sofort der Staatsschutz eingeschaltet.
If there is suspicion of a terrorist attack, state security is called in immediately.
You will almost always hear or read this word in connection with serious, politically motivated crimes. Typical topics are terrorism, extremism, or espionage.
Die Ermittlungen im Bereich des politischen Extremismus sind eine Kernaufgabe des Staatsschutzes.
Investigations in the area of political extremism are a core task of state security.
Office for the Protection of the Constitution
'der Verfassungsschutz' and 'der Staatsschutz' sound similar, and both have to do with threats to the state and the constitution. The important difference lies in the type of agency. 'der Verfassungsschutz' is a German domestic intelligence service and collects information about anti-constitutional activities. 'der Staatsschutz' belongs to the police and investigates politically motivated crimes, for example terrorism, extremism, or espionage. Learners may confuse the words because both deal with similar topics. As a practical rule: collecting information and monitoring is more likely 'Verfassungsschutz'; police investigations are more likely 'Staatsschutz'.
Nach dem Angriff auf das Parteibüro übernahm der Staatsschutz die Ermittlungen.
After the attack on the party office, state security took over the investigation.
Der Verfassungsschutz sammelt Informationen über extremistische Gruppen im Inland.
The domestic intelligence service collects information about extremist groups within Germany.