Timeline in the 'Blood Purge'
The birth of the Third Reich was bloody and the rise to power of the SA
and the Third Reich was bloody, with Hitler purging even those close to
him by the beginning of his Administration in order to achieve the utmost
goal: power.
1908
Roehm made 2nd Lieutenant in the Wehrmacht in WWI
1914
Roehm fights in Lorraine France during WWI
1916
Roehm made Captain at thieument and Verdun
Roehm and von Epp join with Freikorps to battle in opposition to the Armistice
-Roehm fights with Organized Bavarian Civil guard against Russians
1920(s)
Roehm builds up militia like police
Roehm enters National Socialist Deutsche Arbeitpartei [German Workers Party] which will
come to be known as the NSDAP, or Nazi Party
Roehm meets Hitler and strike a comraderie, based upon like experience fighting in France in WWI.
-Hitler Appointed Party Propagandist
1921
Hitler and Roehm organize "security Police" for the SA from former Freikorp members
1923
Hitler's Beerhall Putsch, or Munich March/Putsch, is supported by the SA; Hitler
refers to the Beerhall Putsch as the "baptismal act of the SA".
1925
Hitler and Roehm disagree on role of SA: Roehm wants a new Freikorp. Roehm
loses argument and goes to Bolivia as a mercenary.
In Roehm's absence, SS begins to grow under Hitler's leadership as an exclusive
outgrowth of SA and other military organizations.
1929
January 6, 1929: Himmler leads SS [Schultzstaffel] or the 'Black Guard' which continues
to grow until the end of the Reich.
1931
Hitler, now referred to as 'führer" recalls Roehm to reorganize the SA.
The SA, growing under Roehm's absence and growing Nazi electoral victories, by
1933 will number 2.5 million, headed by Roehm. Most of the SA is more conservative
than others, and continue in book burnings, street violence, and other censorship
and ill behavior.
1933
ON THAT DAY
1 AM: Hitler receives an urgent message from Goering and Himmler regarding the SA plan set for 7-1-34 in Munich and
Berlin.
Decision for "blood purge" is made. Sepp Dietrich and Wagner appointed to put down
the uprising in Munich, Goering in Berlin.
4AM: Goebbels, Lutze and Hitler fly from Bonn to Munich
Arrests made in Munich: Scheinhaber and Schmidt, Chiefs of Bavarian
SA taken under custody; they salute Hitler who rages "These men were not the
most guilty". [See Blind Obedience] They are
executed by Hitler's bodyguard.
11:30AM-Hitler goes to Bad Weiss with the SS and finds Roehm in beld asleep with a young man.
Roehm arrested.
SA Obergrüppenführer E. Heins shot dead while sleeping with a boy
in another room. Their corpses were loaded in the car.
JUNE 30, 1934-Firing Squads at Stadelheim Prison in Munich under Sepp
Dietrich. Charges were Treason,and the sentence was death. Many die with
"heil Hitler" on their lips, not understanding what had transpired.
Continue with Main Timeline
January: Hitler takes office, and becomes Chancellor and President, meaning the Whermacht Luftwaffe and SS are under his command.
TheSS also cotrols Police departments. The SA is still strongly supportive of Hitler. Roehm and Hitler are close
friends, with some speculation about nature of their relationship, Roehm refers to Hitler as 'Du'. The relationship
though on both sides is complex, as both fear the potential for overthrow in the other.
December 2: The Meeting between Hitler and Roehm brings Roehm into Hitler's cabinet as "Minister Without Portfolio"
December 1931 Letter from Führer to Roehm, Himmler, goering , Goebbels, Hess regarding their loyalty and
gratitude to comrades.
1933-1934
Relationship between Hitler and Roehm degenerates perhaps because Roehm seen a s a real threat. Hitler begins to speak of "purifying the party"
by "blood and death". [See Blood in Nazi Beliefs
January 1934- Roehm charged by Hitler as "alienated from the Party" and as having "violated every decree" and having
an "intolerable life"note. Reference was also made regarding Roehm being mutinous and treasonous x
April 1934- Roehm describes SA as an army of " bleivers, martyrs, agitators and soldiers".
Meets with Hitler to discuss the fate of the SA (4-18-07) and Rohems leadership.
Afterwards, Hitler grows wary of Roehm and the beginning of real divisions are made in light
of a Papal letter and suspicions about von Papen, and an intercepted comment made by Roehm
to Lutze in which he says
"What that ridiculous little corporal said does not
concern us.If we can't work with Hitler we shall get on without him. Hitler is a traitor,
we will have to send him on a long vacation.1,
Roehm felt Hitler was betraying what was to be the 'second revolution'; Hitler
felt Roehm was too reactionary and socialist. The great fear was that Catholics
with Vatican support behind von Papen would ally with Roehm and the SA against the
Reich and gain support.
May 1934- Bishop Barre in Berlin condemns "atheists who with hands raised against you consciously fight against the
Christian faith".
June 1934- Roehm openly declares need for a second revolution.
6-4-34- Hitler tries to reason with Roehm not to start a Second Revolution,
or "Workers Revolution". Hitler tells Roehm
Forget the idea of a second Revolution. Believe in me. Don't cause
any trouble2
June 29th, 1934, Friday:
1)Hitler tells Lutze he will sucede Roehm as SA Chief
of Staff; Lutze accepts.
2)Goebbels flies in from Berlin
3)Goebbels informs Hitler
in Berlin that Roehm and the SA are preparing an aktion which is essentially the beginning
of the 2nd Revolution.
4) At Bad Gadesberg at the Hotel Dreesen, 2-9pm, Hitler arrives after visit to the
Labor Camp in Westphalia. Ley and Dietrich and head of the Press are there.
June 30, 1934: The Blood Purge Begins: See "Events on that Day"
above.
July 1, 1934- Press announces deaths, Von Schleichers's death called accidental.
July 2, 1934- Roehm Dies He would not accept suicide as option.
Hitler Addresses Reichstag Outlines 4 Dangerous Groups:
1)Communists/Bolsheviks
2)Former Politcal Party Leaders
3)Leftist Revolutionaries headed by Roehm
4)Critics and Rumormongers
Hitler states :
In this hour I was responsible for the fate of the German people
and therefore am the Supreme Justica of the German People. Everyone must known that in all
future time if he raises his hand to strike the State then certain Death will be his lot.
Frick later legislates vindication for Hitler's actions that day of the Purge as
"legal and statesmanlike".1
REFERENCES
1Nolk, pg. 66, Night on the Rhine
2Encyclopedia of the Third Reich
note1934The 'intolerable' referred to rumored pedophilic behavior and homosexuality
although it is paradoxical because some historians point to a suspected similar relation
between the two men.
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