Why Hitler Should Why Hitler Should Support the ArmySupport the Army

And not the SAAnd not the SA

The SA – points in The SA – points in itsits’’ favour favour

The SAThe SA had fought loyally for had fought loyally for Hitler against the Communists Hitler against the Communists and had helped him come to and had helped him come to power.power.

It was led by It was led by Ernst Rohm (right)Ernst Rohm (right), , a long-time friend and supporter a long-time friend and supporter of Hitler…of Hitler…

It was also powerful - by 1934 it It was also powerful - by 1934 it had 2.5 million had 2.5 million membersmembers..

Ernst Rohm

However…However…

By using the SA to control the army he was worried By using the SA to control the army he was worried that…that…(a) He would have to go along with their other anti-(a) He would have to go along with their other anti-capitalist policies and working class aims. capitalist policies and working class aims. (b) Rivalry between SA and SS could lead to further (b) Rivalry between SA and SS could lead to further problems.problems.As a result…As a result…(a) (a) The SAThe SA were beginning to get out of hand, were beginning to get out of hand, interfering in the running of the country and law interfering in the running of the country and law courts.courts.(b) (b) Ernst RohmErnst Rohm was known to have referred to Hitler was known to have referred to Hitler as a as a ““Swine!Swine!””

Why Hitler Should Support the ArmyWhy Hitler Should Support the Army

Hitler needs us to fulfil his Hitler needs us to fulfil his foreign policy objectives of war foreign policy objectives of war and conquest!and conquest!Hitler has seen how strong we Hitler has seen how strong we are before, in 1923 we are before, in 1923 we stopped the Munich Putsch.stopped the Munich Putsch.As soon Hitler became As soon Hitler became Chancellor on 3 February Chancellor on 3 February 1933, he went to army leaders 1933, he went to army leaders and explained his aims:and explained his aims:

Rearming GermanyRearming GermanyAnd to take over And to take over Lebensraum in Lebensraum in Eastern Europe.Eastern Europe.

Even though we are smaller Even though we are smaller than the SA, the Army is still than the SA, the Army is still made up of about 100,000 made up of about 100,000 soldiers.soldiers.

Why Hitler Should Support the ArmyWhy Hitler Should Support the Army

We are well trained, very organised and We are well trained, very organised and disciplined.disciplined.We have the support of big business and We have the support of big business and conservatives.conservatives.We are, however, very suspicious of We are, however, very suspicious of Rohm and the SA. We think that he not Rohm and the SA. We think that he not only wants to get rid of the big businesses only wants to get rid of the big businesses that supported the Army, but may even that supported the Army, but may even plan to overthrow Hitler!...plan to overthrow Hitler!...

They may even be plotting to They may even be plotting to overthrow Hitler…overthrow Hitler…

Edward von Kleist of the German Army Edward von Kleist of the German Army ““I as the army commander in Silesia was warned by the I as the army commander in Silesia was warned by the Chief of the General Staff (Ludwig Beck) that an attack Chief of the General Staff (Ludwig Beck) that an attack by the SA on the German Army was imminent and that I by the SA on the German Army was imminent and that I should unobtrusively keep my troops on the alert. During should unobtrusively keep my troops on the alert. During the tense days following, I received a flood of reports the tense days following, I received a flood of reports and information which gave a picture of feverish and information which gave a picture of feverish preparations on the part of the SA. preparations on the part of the SA. During the night of 28-29 June, Heines rang me up During the night of 28-29 June, Heines rang me up again. He had just learned that the Army throughout the again. He had just learned that the Army throughout the Reich was on the alert for an SA putschReich was on the alert for an SA putsch””