The Nazi Party: origins, ideas, early development Topic E – part two Significance of Ernst Röhm and the foundation of the SA Significance of the Munich Putsch

Ernst Röhm and the SA O Background O Fought in WW1 O He was injured in September 1914 and again in April 1915 (at Verdun) – injured in chest and face O Spent the rest of war as staff officer – awarded the iron cross

Ernst Röhm and the SA O After WW1 O Remained in army until T of V O Joined DAP in 1919 O Agreed with anti – T of V sentiment, anger at loss of war O Joined Freikorps in Bavaria (responsible for putting down Communists in 1919) O Notorious for violence and destabilising republic in early years

Ernst Röhm and the SA O From groups of ex-soliders who protected Nazi meetings O By 1921 O More organised. Named SA O Led by Röhm O Munich Putsch O Röhm also took part O 15 month suspended sentence (warning) O Hitler appreciated his commitment

Ernst Röhm and the SA O Hitler in jail O Gave Röhm power to organise SA as he wished O In 1925 O Hitler released – disapproved of Röhm’s organisation of the SA O Röhm left party

Ernst Röhm and the SA O 1928 O Röhm went to Bolivia to lead army O 1931 O Röhm returned O Letter from Hitler and improved Nazi results in elections O Röhm – SA Chief of Staff. Hitler – Oberster SA -Führer

Ernst Röhm and the SA O 1930 – 1933 O SA responsible for street violence. Especially against communists O Röhm very close to Hitler – called him ‘Adolf’ O Suspicion from other Nazis O SA sometimes supported strikers – socialist? O Himmler – feared SA more powerful than SS O Thought SA brought discredit to party – violence. Röhm and Heines (other leader) were openly homosexual – frowned on at the time

Ernst Röhm and the SA O By 1933 O 3 million members in SA O 1st December 1933 O Member of Hitler’s Cabinet – no portfolio O He was more radical than other Nazis. Emphasised ‘workers’ and ‘socialist’ O Wanted anti-capitalism and nationalisation (feared by big business) – threatened a ‘second revolution’

Ernst Röhm and the SA O February 1934 O Röhm suggested SA unite with regular army O 1934 O Hitler under pressure from army (feared being united with SA) O Rumours of a «Röhm putsch’ O April O ‘Night of the Long Knives’ – Röhm arrested. Gun left in cell – «If I am to be killed, let Adolf do it himself»

Ernst Röhm and the SA O Aftermath O Official line – Röhm planning a coup O SA sidelined O All copies of ‘Der Sieg des Glaubens’ destroyed (showed Röhm as leading Nazi)

Munich Putsch Causes O Anger at the Treaty of Versailles. O September Anger that Stresemann and Ebert had called off general strike and were negotiating with France (over occupation of the Ruhr). Nazis believed that meant they were accepting blame for war O By 1923, the Nazi party had 55,000 members and was stronger than ever before.

Munich Putsch Causes O Hitler thought he would be helped by important nationalist politicians in Bavaria. O Hitler had a huge army of storm troopers, but he knew he would lose control of them if he did not give them something to do. O Hitler hoped to copy Mussolini - the Italian fascist leader - who had come to power in Italy in 1922 by marching on Rome.

Significance of the Putsch O Yes O Provided huge publicity for the Nazis and some prestige O Showed Hitler that illegal tactics were dangerous – changed to policy of ‘legality’ O Was treated leniently

Significance of the Putsch O No O Could never have succeeded anyway. O Not enough supporters O The Nazi Party was banned (Hitler could not speak legally until 1927)