39788746
Description
Flashcards by Darcey Griffiths, updated 3 months ago
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Created by Darcey Griffiths
3 months ago
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| Question | Answer |
| When did Hitler decide to crush SA | Within 6 months Hitler had turned Germany into one party dictatorship- But in speech on 6th July 1933 to Reich governors Hitler warned dangers of permanent state of revolution- formally declared end to revolution- didn't want SA to cause embarrassment in his relations with conservative forces eg business, civil service and army |
| Position of SA | Hitlers appeal failed to have desired effect- reinforced fears of party members that Nazi leadership was prepared to dilute nationalist socialist ideology- ranks of SA called for second revolution |
| More on SA | Growing SA represented radical left wing of Nazi party- had working class membership- usually young and unemployed- didn't want to hold back to satisfy elites- after role in securing success in 1933- was disappointed by limits in Nazi revolution and lack of personal gain for this previous success |
| Rohm | Rohm called for genuine 'National Socialist Revolution'- was increasingly dissalusioned by politics of Hitler- recognised developing confrontation would decide future role of SA- had private meeting with local party boss Rauschning- called Hitler a swine that would 'give us all away.. only associates with the reactionaries... getting matey with the east Prussian generals' |
| Rohm wants | didn't want SA to turn into mere propaganda machine-wanted political role for SA- amalgamating it with army into a people's militia of which he would be commander- also wanted more fundamental social and economic reforms |
| Power struggle between SA and army | Army disliked Rohm's idea- Hitler caught between two powers- Both could create significant political difficulties- SA had 3 million committed Nazis and Rohm was old friend- Army was much smaller but was the one organisation that could unseat Hitler- Officer class had close ties with powerful interests eg civil servants and Junkers- army was also vital to foreign policy aims- SA also couldn't match army's expertise |
| How Hitler tried to conciliate Rohm | Brought him into cabinet and Hitler called meeting in February between SS and SA to seek agreement about role of each within Nazi state- Rohm and SA resented Hitler's acceptance of privileged position of army while unrestrained actions of SA displeased army generals |
| The Purge pt 1 what caused it | April 1934- President Hindenburg didn't have much longer to live- Hitler wanted to assume presidency without opposition and didn't want contested election- had no sympathy for those who wanted to restore monarchy- needed to secure army's backing for succession |
| Army wants | to eliminate SA and second revolution- Hitler needed to put ties with Rohm aside |
| Purge events | Meeting on battleship 'Deutschland' in April 1934 Hitler and 2 leading generals Blomberg and Fritsch agreed on position against SA and Rohm. Goring and Himmler were also manoeuvring behind scenes- wanted same outcome- But Hitler probably didn't reach decision for action until mid June when Papen gave speech to end SA excesses and criticising coordination- clear challenge |
| Night of Long Knives | 30 June 1934 Hitler eliminated SA as political and millitary force- Rohm and other main leaders shot by SS- weapons and transport provided by army- no resistance- old scores also settled- Schleicher- former chancellor and Strasser leader of radical socialist wing were killed- estimated 200 murdered |
| Significance of night of long knives | German army endorsed Nazi regime in Blomberg public vote of thanks to Hitler on 1 July- German soldiers took oath of loyalty to Hitler rather than to state SA virtually disarmed- major role was to attend propaganda rallies SS truly emerged |
| Hitler role after night of long Knives | Hitler established personal political supremacy- When Hindenburg died on 2 August there was no political crisis- Hitler took role of president and chancellor, being named Fuhrer. |
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