Consolidation - Night of the Long Knives

What impact did this have on the SA?

Ended the SA as a military and political force.

Rohm and other leading members of SA were shot by the SS, a wing of the SA.

What else was removed other than the SA?

Among the 200 who were killed was former chancellor Schleicher, and leader of radical socialist wing of the party, Strasser.

What did Hitler do throughout this action?

Hitler destroyed the left-wing of his party and the old conservative right wing.

How did Hitler win the support of the army?

Won support of the army through Night of the Long Knives, with soldiers taking a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler.

What did Hitler’s desire to control events and prevent a permanent state of revolution lead to?

Led to conflict with the SA who wanted to take the process of coordination even further.

What was Hitler concerned about regarding the SA?

Was concerned that the army would be alienated by Rohm’s plans and did not support his call for a ‘second revolution’.

How did the army view the SA?

As undisciplined and too politicised, and did not want the two merged.

What was Hitler aware of regarding the army?

Aware they were the one institution that could remove him and that much of its leadership was suspicious of him.

Most importantly, they had the military skills that he would need to implement his foreign policy.

When was Hitler’s decision to support the army culminated?

The events known as the Night of the Long Knives - 30 June 1934.

What did Hitler want to avoid?

An election for the office of president, which he wanted to assume, and did not want the army to lead an attempt to replace him with a monarchy.

All in all, how important was Hitler’s support for the army?

It was vital for Hitler in both the short and long term, even if it meant sacrificing a close friend in Rohm.