1. Night of the Long Knives
Learning Objectives: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany

2. Night of the Long Knives
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Night of the Long Knives
RECAP:
How did the Reichstag Fire & the Enabling Act help Hitler consolidate his position of power.
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3. Night of the Long Knives
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Night of the Long Knives

4. The Road to Dictatorship
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
The Road to Dictatorship
Must - Describe the events of the Night of the Long Knives
Should - Explain how the Night of the Long Knives increased Hitler’s power
Could - Make a judgment about the most important events that led to Hitler’s Dictatorship

5. The Road to Dictatorship
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
The Road to Dictatorship
Hitler wants to become dictator of Germany. As one of his closest advisor, Hitler wants you to help him.
The obstacles which may stand in his way are:
Any new laws must be passed by the Reichstag
There are only 3 Nazis in the government
He does not have the support of the army which feels threatened by the SA
Opposition parties exist
Hindenburg, the president can sack him at any time

6. Night of the Long Knives
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Night of the Long Knives
Background
Hitler was Chancellor, but still did not have full control.
Opposition from outside the Nazi Party was being destroyed – Communists were banned and concentration camps had been set up.
BUT – some within the Nazi Party opposed Hitler. ALSO – some important people would not support Hitler while these opponents remained.
Who might have been their enemies within?

7. LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Sturmabteilung (SA)
The Stormtroopers were also know as the Brownshirts
Formed to protects the Nazi Party in 1921
Ernst Rohm was their leader
What do you know about the SA

8. LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Why were they disloyal?
Some SA members were still keen on the original ideas of the Nazi’s – a National Socialist Revolution
They wanted rich landowners and big businesses to be swept away or taken over
Gregor Strasser was the main believer in this – he had a lot of supporters

9. Gregor Strassor was not keen on Hitler!
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Gregor Strassor was not keen on Hitler!
‘I am a man marked by death.
Whatever happens, mark what I say: From now on Germany is in the hands of an Austrian who is a congenital liar, a former officer who is a pervert, and a clubfoot.
And I tell you the last is the worst of them all. This is Satan in human form.’

10. LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Ernst Rohm
Ernst Rohm, the leader of the SA, also clashed with Hitler. He wanted the Brownshirts to become the new German Army. With him in charge of course

11. Did Rohm know what was coming?
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Did Rohm know what was coming?
Adolf is a swine. He will give us all away. He only associates with reactionaries now. Adolf knows exactly what I want. Not a second edition of the imperial army. Are we revolutionaries or aren’t we? We have got to produce something new, don’t you see? A new discipline. A new principle of organisation. The generals are a lot of old fogies. (Jan 1933)

12. Was Rohm in a strong position?
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Was Rohm in a strong position?
Hitler can’t walk over me as he did a year ago; I’ve seen that. Don’t forget that I have three million men, with every key position in the hands of my own people…If Hitler is reasonable I shall settle the matter quietly; if he isn’t I must be prepared to use force – not for my sake but for the sake of the revolution. (Jan 1934)

13. Why should Hitler support the Sturmabteilung (S.A)
The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923
The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party
Why should Hitler support the
Sturmabteilung (S.A)
The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm
Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis
Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler
Ernst Rohm shared Hitler’s vision of a racially pure society
The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s.
The S.A. had more than 2 million members by 1934.

14. Why should Hitler purge the Sturmabteilung (S.A)
If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives
The German Army was well organised and trained and possessed the weapons necessary to wage large scale war
Ernst Rohm wanted to merge the regular German Army with the S.A
The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis
Why should Hitler purge the
Sturmabteilung (S.A)
Ernst Rohm was a potential rival to Hitler
As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control
Many Generals and leading Nazis distrusted and feared Ernst Rohm
S.A. leaders were demanding rewards for their loyal service. They were angry that new Party Members were receiving more recognition than they were
If Hitler supported the German Army he would gain the support of large businesses
The S.A. were good at breaking up opponents political meetings, but they were not a professional army.

15. What was Hitler’s Decision?
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
What was Hitler’s Decision?
Hitler complied a hit list of disloyal SA men.
Himmler, Heydrich and Goering were keen to do this.
Viktor Lutze, another SA chief was also willing to help

16. This was of course done in secret!
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
This was of course done in secret!
Watch you back Ernst…
Himmler, leader of the SS, was especially keen to get rid of Rohm. He wanted control of the concentration camps and police forces.

17. LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
What happens next?
Read the worksheet - Why did Hitler turn on the SA in the Night of the Long Knives?
As you read highlight the following:
Key individuals involved in the event;
Key events that took place.

18. LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Death of Hindenburg
On 2nd August 1934 President Hindenburg died. Within hours, Hitler had declared himself President and was now Commander in Chief of the German Armed Forces as well as Chancellor of the Reichstag. He combined the offices of President and Chancellor and declared himself ‘Führer’ (leader) of the new Third Reich.

19. ‘I swear by almighty God this scared oath:
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
The Führer Oath
Hitler made the whole of the army swear an oath of loyalty to him personally.
‘I swear by almighty God this scared oath:
I will render unconditional obedience to the Führer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the Wehrmacht, and, as a brave soldier I am ready at any time to stake my life for this Oath.’
With this final step, Hitler’s power was unquestionable and his consolidation of power complete

20. Hitler's Consolidation of Power
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Hitler's Consolidation of Power
How was Hitler able to increase his power between January 1933 and August 1934? (8 marks)
You have to explain how this dramatic change from Chancellor to Dictator happened in just 18 months.
It is important that you don’t just describe (tell a story).
Every paragraph must have a Point, some Evidence and an Explanation...

21. Burger/PEEL Paragraphs
*History Skills Builder*
Burger/PEEL Paragraphs
Bun - Point
Salad - Evidence
Meat - Explanation
Bun - Link

22. Answer this question using P-E-E-L.
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Hitler's Consolidation of Power
How was Hitler able to increase his power between January 1933 and August 1934? (8 marks)
Answer this question using P-E-E-L.
Write a brief introduction setting the scene.
In January 1933 Hitler was in a weak position. Hindenburg could sack him at any time and he had only 33% of the vote.
Choose the 3 events you think are the most important to Hitler’s power increasing.
Write a paragraph about each one, making sure you explain how the event led to Hitler’s power increasing.

23. Hitler's Consolidation of Power
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Hitler's Consolidation of Power
How was Hitler able to increase his power between January 1933 and August 1934? (8 marks)
Sentence starters...
A key event that helped Hitler increase his power was...
One way Hitler was able to increase his power was...
Another event that led to Hitler increasing his power was...
Useful connectives (for explanation)
This meant that...
This led to...
It enabled him to...
He could now...
This resulted in...

24. Hitler's Consolidation of Power
LO: To explain how Hitler overcame the opposition facing him in order to consolidate his position of power within Nazi Germany
Hitler's Consolidation of Power
Two things you have
learnt
Two things that you
still have questions

25. Cartoon Analysis Who are shown in the centre of the cartoon?
How have they been portrayed?

26. Can you explain the cartoon caption: ‘They Salute with Both Hands Now’’?
What is the joke?

27. Describe the appearance of Hitler, Goebbels and Goering.
What point is Low, the cartoonist, trying to make?

28. What is written upon Hitler’s armband? (Go to next slide to enlarge)
What do you think is meant by this?

29. What is written upon Hitler’s armband?
What do you think is meant by this?

30. What do you think is meant by this?
What has been discarded on the floor? (See message enlarged on next slide)
What do you think is meant by this?

31. What has been discarded on the floor?
What do you think is meant by this?

32. What has happened to the people in the foreground?
According to the cartoonist who seems most likely to be responsible for this action? Give evidence.
Cartoon from the London Evening Standard with permission

33. Who are the people surrounding the scene?
Why is their presence so significant?

34. Overall, what is the meaning of the cartoon?
How useful is the cartoon in helping us to understand the events that occurred during The Night of the Long Knives?

35. So what have I learnt about the S.A.?
(Some information has been added for you)
The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm
The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s.

36. (Some information has been added for you)
So what have I learnt about the reasons for the Night of the Long Knives?
(Some information has been added for you)
The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis
If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives

37. At least 83, (but more likely over 200) people were killed
So what have I learnt about the consequences of the Night of the Long Knives? (Some information has been added for you)
Hitler’s popularity soared within the Party and amongst the German population
At least 83, (but more likely over 200) people were killed
Ernst Rohm, potential rival to Hitler and leader of the S.A. was shot dead