Coming to Power March 1933 – August 1934 Topic H – part three

Hitler’s position in July 1933 O Hitler worried about a permanent state of revolution – speech ‘the stream of revolution must be guided into the safe channel of evolution’ O He felt divided O Nazi left – 3 million SA (expecting a ‘second revolution’) O Beyond his control. Emabarrassing when dealing with conservative forces he relied on O Right – elite (especially army. Worried about Nazi radicals – especially SA

Who were the SA? O Radical O Left-wing O Usually working class – young and unemployed in the depression O Emphasised socialist elements of Nazi Party (far more than Hitler did) O Did not care about offending elites O Had significant role in political battle on the streets O Wanted more from Nazi ‘revolution’

Who was Röhm? O Called for a ‘National Socialist Revolution’ O Wanted a people’s army O Merge German army and SA O Did not merely want to be a propaganda O By 1934 he was disillusioned with Hitler

Röhm on Hitler – early 1934 O ‘Adolf is a swine. He will give us all away. He only associates with the reactionaries now. …Getting matey with the East Prussian generals. They’re his cronies now. …Adolf knows exactly what I want. I’ve told him often enough. Not a second edition of the old imperial army.’

SA versus army O SA O Pros O 3 million committed Nazis O Lead by Hitler’s oldest political friend O Fought for Hitler in 1923 putsch O Fought for Hitler in battle on the streets 1930 – 33 O Larger than the army O Cons O Unrestrained actions O Ill discipline O Not willing to co-operate with army

SA versus army O Army O Pros O Could unseat Hitler if not treated favourably O Close social ties with many powerful interests eg. Civil service and Junkers O Possessed military skills vital to foreign policy aims O Discipline and professional expertise O Cons O Officer class suspicious of Hitler O Small

Hitler’s attempts to appease the SA O Winter 1933 – 34 O Brought Röhm into the Cabinet O February O Meeting between leaders of army, SA and SS – tried to reach an agreement about role in Nazi state O STILL TENSION

The Night of the Long Knives O Why did Hitler become so concerned about opposition by April 1934? O News of Hindenburg’s imminent death O Hitler wanted guaranteed support from army so he could become president (needed them for foreign policy) O Army was fed up of SA talk of ‘second revolution’ and ‘people’s militia’ O If Hitler pushed SA to the side O Guaranteed support of army generals O Secure personal position O Remove embarrassing millstone (SA)

The Night of the Long Knives O Plan (no full proof) O April 1934 O Meeting between Hitler, Blomberg and Fritsch (leading generals) on battleship Deutschland O Göring and Himmler O Manouevering behind the scenes O Also wanted to secure ambitions – remove rival O Mid-June O Papen – speech demanded end of SA violence and criticised Gleichschaltung O Probably final point for Hitler

The Night of the Long Knives O Two days earlier in Völkischer Beobachter. Details about Reich Cabinet meeting O ‘Defence Minister General Blomberg thanked the Führer in the name of the cabinet and the army for his determined and courageous action, by which he had saved the German people from civil war…. The Reich cabinet then approved a law on measures for the self-defence of the state. Ist single paragraph reads: ‘The measures taken on 30 June and 1 and 2 July to suppress the acts of high treason are legal, being necessary for the self-defence of the state.’

Blomberg Fritsch

The Night of the Long Knives O Events O 30th June 1934 – rounded up enemies – shot O Weapons and transport from army O Röhm, Schleicher, Strasser – settled old scores and eliminated SA O 200 people murdered (estimate)

The Night of the Long Knives O Significance O German army O clearly aligned with Nazis O 1st July – Blomeberg O German soldiers took personal oath of loyalty to Hitler O SA O Almost unarmed O No role in political development of Nazi state O Just showpiece at Nazi rallies

The Night of the Long Knives O Significance O SS O Emerged as elite institution of terror O Hitler O Own personal supremacy O Legalised murder O Not traditional authoritarian one, like Imperial Germany. O Instead personal dictatorship – frightening power

Hindenburg’s death O 2nd August O Hitler merged offices of chancellor and president O Führer