Köpenick's week of bloodshed

Köpenick's week of bloodshed is the name given to a week of arrests, torture and killings by the SA between 21 and 26 June 1933. The victims were civilians and the Berlin suburb of Köpenick, where it took place, was thought by the new government to contain particularly large numbers of Communists and Jews.

Events were choreographed by SA-Sturmbannführer Herbert Gehrke. Approximately 500 opponents of National Socialism, identified as political non-conformists and Jews were detained by the local SA brigade, supported by police and SA groups from other parts of Berlin. Detainees were subjected to humiliation, torture and murder.