Visit of Heinrich Himmler to Spain in 1940

[2] Himmler had accepted the invitation extended by Director General of Security José Finat y Escrivá de Romaní, whom he had met in Berlin in August of that year.

[3] The main purpose of the visit was to inspect the Spanish security forces, discuss Spanish-German police cooperation, and prepare for the planned meeting between Franco and Hitler.

[a] In the streets of the capital city, decorated with Nazi flags, he was received by Falangists in uniform and members of the Armed Police Corps.

[2][11] The regime's official newspaper, Arriba, was not sparing of praise for the foreign dignitary, going so far as to comment con hombres como Himmler llegan a su cenit los Estados fuertes.

The Spanish dictator, who—according to British Ambassador Samuel Hoare—had received Himmler like a "sovereign prince," made a poor impression on the Nazi leader.

Since he was not satisfied with the coverage by the regime's press outlets, he gave instructions to Enrique Giménez-Arnau [es]—the general director of the press—so that newspapers such as ABC, Ya, or Arriba would [estar] a la altura de las circunstancias.

Spanish archaeologist Julio Martínez Santa-Olalla [es], an ardent Nazi sympathizer, was assigned to the entourage and accompanied Himmler during these visits.

Rather, by the fact that he believed the level of repression was "politically" counterproductive[33] and also because of how absurd it was to exterminate valuable labor when there was an urgent need for workers in order to rebuild the country.

"[11] Himmler held several meetings with Serrano, after which they reached an agreement to strengthen the political and police cooperation between both countries:[34] the Gestapo would open an office at the German Embassy in Madrid and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) would establish delegations in each German consulate in Spanish soil,[12] while the Nazi agents acting in the Spanish territory would have diplomatic immunity.

[3] Likewise, Himmler made sure that one of his deputies who was already operating in the country, Paul Winzer [es], would train the new Spanish secret police.