Achieving Total Power

• The SA was a Threat to Hitler

  1)The SA had helped Hitler come to power, but Hitler now saw it as a threat.

  2) Its members were very loyal to Ernst Röhm, the SA's leader. Hitler was worried that Röhm was becoming too powerful - by 1934 the SA had more members than the German army.

  3) The SA was also unpopular with the leaders of the German army and with some ordinary Germans
• The 'Night of the Long Knives'- Hitler removes his enemies

  1)Ernst Röhm was the biggest threat to Hitler, but Hitler was also worried about other members of the Nazi Party who disagreed with his views.

  2) On the 29th-30th June 1934, Hitler sent men to arrest or kill Röhm and other leaders of the SA. Hitler also used this opportunity to remove some of his political opponents. Altogether, several hundred people were killed or imprisoned.
• The 'Night of the Long Knives'- Hitler removes his enemies

  3) Hitler claimed that those who had been killed

  had been plotting to overthrow the government, so he declared their murders legal.

  4) This became known as the 'Night of the Long Knives', and was a triumph for Hitler.

  5) It stamped out all potential opposition within the Nazi party and sent a powerful message to the party about Hitler's ruthlessness and brutality. It also showed that Hitler was now free to act above the law.
• Hitler took full control of National and Local government 

  1)In August 1934, Hindenburg died. Hitler used the opportunity to combine the posts of Chancellor and President, and also made himself Commander-in-Chief of the army.

   2) He called himself Der Führer (the leader) - this was the beginning of the dictatorship. 

  3) At this point, Germany was reorganised into a number of

  provinces. Each province was called a Gau (plural: Gaue), with a Gauleiter (a loyal Nazi) in charge of each.
• Hitler took full control of National and Local government 

  4) Above them were the Reichsleiters, who advised Hitler, e.g. Goebbels who was in charge of propaganda, and Himmler who was chief of the German police.

  5) At the top and in absolute control was the Führer - Hitler. 

  6) Every aspect of life was carefully controlled, and only loyal Nazis could be successful.