Ernst Rohm
Write an account of Rohm's involvement in the NSDAP. [15]
- 1919
- Röhm joins the German Workers’ Party (DAP), the early form of the Nazi Party.
- Röhm joins the German Workers’ Party (DAP), the early form of the Nazi Party.
- 1920
- Helps Adolf Hitler in organising the party’s paramilitary wing, which becomes the SA (Sturmabteilung or Stormtroopers).
- Helps Adolf Hitler in organising the party’s paramilitary wing, which becomes the SA (Sturmabteilung or Stormtroopers).
- 1921
- Becomes a key leader in the SA, responsible for protecting Nazi meetings and fighting political opponents.
- Becomes a key leader in the SA, responsible for protecting Nazi meetings and fighting political opponents.
- 1923
- Takes part in the Munich Putsch, a failed attempt by Hitler and the Nazis to seize power in Munich. Röhm is arrested along with Hitler.
- Takes part in the Munich Putsch, a failed attempt by Hitler and the Nazis to seize power in Munich. Röhm is arrested along with Hitler.
- 1924
- Röhm is briefly imprisoned for his role in the Putsch but is released soon after.
- Röhm is briefly imprisoned for his role in the Putsch but is released soon after.
- 1925
- Disagrees with Hitler over the role of the SA:
- Röhm wanted the SA to remain a revolutionary force and eventually replace the German army.
- Hitler now aimed to gain power legally and avoid upsetting the army or middle-class supporters.
- Röhm wanted the SA to remain a revolutionary force and eventually replace the German army.
- Röhm resigns and leaves Germany, later working as a military adviser in Bolivia.
- Disagrees with Hitler over the role of the SA:
- 1930
- Hitler recalls Röhm to Germany to lead the SA again, giving him the title Chief of Staff.
- Hitler recalls Röhm to Germany to lead the SA again, giving him the title Chief of Staff.
- 1931–1933
- Under Röhm’s leadership, the SA grows rapidly, reaching over 3 million members.
- Röhm continues to push for the SA to become Germany’s main military force, causing tension with the regular army and Nazi leadership.
- Under Röhm’s leadership, the SA grows rapidly, reaching over 3 million members.
- 1933
- After Hitler becomes Chancellor, Röhm’s ambitions worry the army and top Nazis.
- Röhm wants a "second revolution" to bring more social change and more power to the SA.
- After Hitler becomes Chancellor, Röhm’s ambitions worry the army and top Nazis.
- June 30 – July 2, 1934 – The Night of the Long Knives
- Hitler launches a purge of the SA leadership, including Ernst Röhm, to eliminate threats to his power.
- The German army (Reichswehr) and leading Nazis like Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler convinced Hitler that Röhm was planning a coup.
- Röhm had called for a "second revolution" to bring more radical change, including replacing the army with the SA. This alarmed both the army and conservative politicians.
- Over 400 people were killed, including Röhm, other SA leaders, and some of Hitler's political enemies (e.g., former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher).
- Röhm was arrested and given a chance to commit suicide but refused, so he was shot dead in prison.
- The purge secured Hitler’s control over the Nazi Party and gained him the support of the army, who were pleased to see the SA weakened.
- After this, the SA’s power was greatly reduced, and the SS (Schutzstaffel) rose in importance.
- Hitler launches a purge of the SA leadership, including Ernst Röhm, to eliminate threats to his power.
