2 - The SA and Night of the Long Knives Flashcards
What was the SA compared to the army?
1934 :
SA - 3 million , disorganised , unpredictable violence, under Nazi control
Army - 100,000 , organised , Prussian , under Gov control
Who was the leader of the SA?
Ernst Röhm
Army Captain in WW1
Homosexual and alcholic
Took control of SA in 1930
Annoyed hitler with his lifestyle
What led to the SAs downfall??
Hitler ensured their attacks didnt occur on the police and army
July 1933: one-party state meant that the Second Revolution was over
Röhm disagreed and demanded the army become part of the SA
August 1933: SA lost their ‘auxiliary police’ status and had stricter regulations thrust upon them
SA members became restless with no real outlet for their violence so drunken brawls became common
When was the night?
30th June 1934
What happened on the night??
84 executed, 1000+ arrested
SA hierarchy purged
Papen’s staff executed and himself placed under house arrest
Essentially an inauguration of the SS as the new state terror force
Chief planners: Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich
Aftermath??
13th July: Hitler told the Reichstag he accepted full responsibility for the executions – acted as supreme judge of the German people and did this to save Germany from an SA coup
Army’s support secured
Public support secured due to decisive actions
SA declined in power and popularity (1.6m by Oct 1935)
Post-Knives saw violence and terror used more systematically
