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!

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!

The Night of the Long Knives

Hitler makes sure that he is in control of the Nazi Revolution

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?

The Reichswehr

The Reichswehr v SA

• The German Army– 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!

The SA versus the SS

• SS– 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

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

Some of the victims 29th/30th June 1934

• Ernst Rohm

• Gregor Strasser

• Von Kahr

• Von Schleicher

• Koppel

• Father Stempfle

• + up to 400 others

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)

Was it a success?

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???