Assess the value of the source for revealing Hitler's role in the events of the 30th June 1834 and the efficiency of the Nazi regime

Question 1

Facts about night of the long knives

Answer 1

• Röehm (leader of the SA) killed and Schleicher (military man accused of Bolshevism) also killed
• Papen arrested
• Hitler thought Röhm was organising a putsch
• 200-400 of the SA slaughtered
• SA merged with the army by 1935 to have 1 million men and 1 million reserves,
• Hitler viewed Röehm as becoming too powerful (SA had. million men and rechswehr only 300,000) and trying to get a second revolution which went against Führerprinzip (hitler always being right)
• Junkers and Hindenburg wanted hitler to be head of the army
• 2nd August (the day after Hindenburg dies) Hitler makes all army members swear allegiance to him, not germany

Question 2

Hitler’s role- Facts

Answer 2

• It was Hitler who initiated the massacre
• towards the end of his consolidation, so no one stood in his way anymore other than Röhm
• Enabling act gave Hitler emergency article 48 powers, allowing him to take whatever measures he chose
• Outcome with army and SA merging meant Germany had become a totalitarian state, with Hitler as chief of the army and President

Question 3

Efficiency of the Nazi regime- facts

Answer 3

• 200-400 killed within the night of Hitler organising the putsch
• SS do exactly what Hitler says, even if it means murdering fellow Germans
• Day after Hindenburg dies (august 2nd) all army members swear allegiance to Hitler
• Himmler carried out purge as leader of the SS
• rewarded with becoming an independent organisation within the party