The Night of the Long Knives

Presentation on theme: "The Night of the Long Knives"— Presentation transcript:

1 The Night of the Long Knives
Nazi control and dictatorship The Night of the Long Knives L/O: Why was the SA a threat? What happened on the Night of the Long Knives? How did Hitler gain absolute power?

2 Nazi control and dictatorship
Starter The Nazi Army that helped Hitler come to power The S.S The S.A The law that allowed Hitler to make decisions without consulting anyone. Match up the correct definitions The Enabling Act The new Nazi army that Hitler could control.

3 Nazi control and dictatorship
German army and elite vs. Rohm and the SA – if both continue to pull the whole thing will collapse and Hitler will fall. What does this cartoon tell us about the challenges facing Hitler in 1934?

4 Nazi control and dictatorship
Background Hitler was Chancellor (Prime Minister), but not yet completely in control. Opposition from outside the Nazi party was being strangled – Communists were banned and concentration camps set up. BUT – Some within the Nazi Party opposed Hitler. ALSO – Some important people wouldn’t support Hitler while these opponents remained.

5 Nazi control and dictatorship
The SA SA – Sturm-Abteilung, or Stormtroopers, were also known as Brownshirts. They were formed in 1921 to protect the Nazi party. Ernst Rohm was their leader.

6 Was Rohm in a strong position?
Jan 1934 Hitler can't walk over me as he might have done a year ago; I've seen to 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 our revolution.

7 Nazi control and dictatorship
Why were the SA a threat? Ernst Rohm was a threat to Hitler The SA numbered 3 million, Rohm was in an ideal position to challenge Hitler with so many loyal to him Rohm opposed Hitler’s policies. He criticised Hitler’s links with rich industry and army generals;. He wanted to help the working classes. The German army only had 1,000 men – Rohm wanted to army to replace the SA Leaders of the SS, such as Himmler and Heydrich, resented Rohm and wanted to increase their own power and that of the SS In 1934, the SS warned Hitler that Rohm was planning to seize power. Using the information on the slide answer the question – Why did the Night of Long Knives take place in June 1934? Use connectives such as ‘this meant that’… to develop your answer, Higher

8 Nazi control and dictatorship
Why did Hitler do this? Ernst Rohm was a threat to Hitler Rohm opposed Hitler’s policies. He criticised Hitler’s links with rich industry and army generals. The German army only had 1,000 men – Rohm wanted to army to replace the SA. The SA numbered 3 million and were loyal to Rohm Leaders of the SS, such as Himmler and Heydrich, resented Rohm and wanted to increase their own power and that of the SS Using the information on the slide answer the questions - FULL SENTENCE ANSWERS 1.Why was Rohm a threat to Hitler? 2. How strong was the SA? 3. Why did Himmler and Heydrich want to remove the SA? Higher

9 Did Rohm know what was coming?
Nazi control and dictatorship Did Rohm know what was coming? Adolf is a swine. He will give us all way. He only associates with reactionaries now. Adolf knows exactly what I want. Not a second edition of the old imperial army. Are we revolutionaries or aren't we? We've got to produce something new, don't you see? A new discipline. A new principle of organization. The generals are a lot of old fogies. May 1933

10 Nazi control and dictatorship
What did Hitler do? He got his friends to compile hit-lists of disloyal SA men. Himmler, Heydrich and Goering were keen to do this. Viktor Lutze, another SA chief was also very willing to help. Can you think why?

11 This was of course, done in secret!
Nazi control and dictatorship This was of course, done in secret! Watch your back, Ernst.... Himmler, leader of the SS, was especially keen to get rid of Rohm. He wanted control of the concentration camps and the police forces.

12 Nazi control and dictatorship
What happened? On 30 June 1934 Hitler arranged for Rohm and several other officers of the SA to be arrested, imprisoned and shot. This is known as the Night of the Long Knives. With an SS escort, the Fuhrer knocked gently on Rohm’s door: ‘A message from Munich’, he said in a disguised voice, ‘Come in’ Rohm shouted, ‘the door is open’. Hitler tore open the door, fell on Rohm as he lay in the bed, grabbed him by the throat and screamed, ‘’You are under arrest, you pig!’ Then he turned him over to the SS Extracts from the diary of Alfred Rosenberg, a leading Nazi politician, 30 June 1934

13 Nazi control and dictatorship
What happened next? Over four days, about 400 people, including 150 SA, were shot without trial. These included General Schleicher – the ex-chancellor- who was gunned down with his wife. Goering announced that they had been shot resisting arrest. Gregor Strasser, locked in a Gestapo cell before gunmen sprayed bullets through a window. Hitler was now acting illegally by murdering his rivals. Some obhected to the violence, but few knew how terrible it had been. Most were grateful that the SA had been removed. The SA continued after 1934 but were limited to giving muscle to the Nazi Party and no longer rivalled the army. It was also now firmly under Hitler’s control.

14 Hitler’s speech on 13 July
Nazi control and dictatorship Hitler’s speech on 13 July "In this hour I was responsible for the fate of the German people, and thereby I become the supreme judge of the German people. I gave the order to shoot the ringleaders in this treason." Hitler had wanted Rohm to be let off, for old time’s sake. Himmler and Goering wanted none of it. Rohm was ordered to commit suicide. When he refused, two SS men shot him dead....

15 Results of the Night of the Long Knives
Nazi control and dictatorship Results of the Night of the Long Knives Over 1,000 opponents were killed. Hitler made himself President as well as Chancellor, a new role called ‘Der Fuehrer’. He also made himself head of the armed forces, who had to swear an oath of loyalty to him. He was now in complete control. In August, President Hindenburg died.

16 The Fuhrer Oath Nazi control and dictatorship
I swear by almighty God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht, and, as a brave soldier, I will be ready at any time to stake my life for this oath."

17 Nazi control and dictatorship
The Fuhrer On 2nd August 1934 Hindenburg died Hitler combined the jobs of Chancellor and President He created a new title of Fuhrer The Army swore a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler A public vote was organised to confirm Hitler as the Fuhrer. 90% of voters decided in favour Hitler had gained total power in Germany. The Weimar Republic had ended; Hitler’s Third Reich had begun

18 Nazi control and dictatorship
Questions What happened on the Night of the Long Knives? What excuse did Hitler use to justify these murders? How did the army respond to the Night of the Long Knives and Hindenburg’s death) Use pages of the Edexcel books or the white Germany books for this.

19 Nazi control and dictatorship
Revision card 10 Night of the Long Knives Causes What happened What were the consequences?