1. The Enabling Act Nazis still did not have over 50% of seats
They needed a 2/3rds majority to change constitution
Nazis wanted to pass the Enabling Act
Would allow Nazis to pass laws without votes in Reichstag and without Article 48
Would turn Germany into a Dictatorship
Nazis used emergency decree powers to arrest Communists
Convinces Catholic Party to support him
In return for allowing Catholic Schools to operate!
Enabling act passed 441 – 84
Hitler is now a Dictator!

2. Homework
Explain why Hitler had these killed on the night of 29th/30th June 1934
Ernst Rohm
Gregor Strasser
Von Kahr
Von Schleicher
Father Stempfle
+ up to 400 others Or
Find a complete list of all those who died on that night!

3. The Night of the Long Knives
Hitler makes sure that he is in control of the Nazi Revolution

4. A Possible Challenger to Hitler
Although the Enabling Act gave Hitler dictatorial powers, he still had to be careful of one German institution that could remove him from power.
Which one?

5. The Reichswehr

6. The Reichswehr v SA The German Army Sturm Abteilung Hindenburg CinC
Limited by Treaty of Versailles
100,000
Experienced Soldiers
Mostly officers and NCOs
Anti-Communist
Strongly Nationalist
Uneasy about other organisations carrying weapons
Sturm Abteilung
Rohm CinC
2 million members
Inexperienced Thugs
Anti-Communist
But Radical
Impatient with political process
Strongly Nationalist
Anti-Jewish
Wanted to replace Reichswehr
But the SA also has another Nazi Rival to deal with!

7. The SA versus the SS SS SA Himmler Set up in 1927
to act as Hitler’s Bodyguards
Small group of fanatical loyalists
“My honour is Loyalty” SA
Rohm
Set up in 1921
to provide protection to Nazis and intimidate opponents
Large group of sometimes ‘uncontrollable’ thugs

8. The Night of the Long Knives
When
Night of 29th/30th June 1934
Where
Most SA rounded up from a small hotel in a village near Munich
Other victims picked up at their homes
Who
Up to 400 victims (next slide)
SS soldiers did the arresting
Hitler personally took part
Why
To gain the support of the Reichswehr
To remove rivals to the Nazi Movement
To settle old scores

9. Some of the victims 29th/30th June 1934
Ernst Rohm
Gregor Strasser
Von Kahr
Von Schleicher
Koppel
Father Stempfle
+ up to 400 others

10. Some of the victims 29th/30th June 1934
Ernst Rohm – Head of SA
Shot after failing to commit suicide
Gregor Strasser – Berlin Nazi
Shot in prison
Von Kahr – ex Bavarian leader
Hacked to death with axes, thrown in swamp
Von Schleicher – ex Chancellor
Shot at home with wife
Koppel - communist
executed
Father Stempfel – Catholic priest
Broken neck + 3 bullets in heart
+ up to 400 others (Mostly SA but also opponents)

11. Was it a success?

12. Was it a success?
When Hindenburg died in August 1934, the Reichswehr were prepared to add to their oath of loyalty:
". . . to render unconditional obedience to the Fuhrer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler…".
The Reichswehr accepted Hitler as their new Commander in Chief
No Nazis would ever challenge Hitler again
It was surprisingly popular
Hitler was standing up to the ‘radical’ Nazis
He was a ‘reasonable’ Nazi???