Editing Reinhard Heydrich (section)

===Night-and-Fog decree===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R98683, Reinhard Heydrich.jpg|thumb|upright|Heydrich in 1940]]
By late 1940, German armies had invaded most of Western Europe. The following year, Heydrich's SD was given responsibility for carrying out the ''[[Nacht und Nebel]]'' (Night-and-Fog) decree.{{sfn|Bracher|1970|p=418}} According to the decree, "persons endangering German security" were to be arrested in a maximally discreet way: "under the cover of night and fog". People disappeared without a trace with no one told of their whereabouts or fate.{{sfn|Snyder|1994|p=242}} For each prisoner, the SD had to fill in a questionnaire that listed personal information, country of origin, and the details of their crimes against the Reich. This questionnaire was placed in an envelope inscribed with a seal reading "Nacht und Nebel" and submitted to the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA). In the [[SS-Wirtschafts-Verwaltungshauptamt|WVHA]] "Central Inmate File", as in many camp files, these prisoners would be given a special "covert prisoner" code, as opposed to the code for POW, Felon, Jew, [[Romani people|Gypsy]], etc.{{efn|name=coding}} The decree remained in effect after Heydrich's death. The exact number of people who vanished under it has never been positively established, but it is estimated to be 7,000.<ref name="ushmm Night And Fog Decree"/>