Why
did Hitler turn on the SA?
1.
It was growing too powerful
Rohm wanted to be leader of the army and quarrelled with Hitler. 2.
Hitler
was now Chancellor/ the government
and had no more use for violent action (a force which had been designed to destabilise/overthrow the government). 3.
Choice
– SA or army
(nb Rohm wanted to be commander of a joint army-SA). Hitler chose the army (nb connections with 1 and 2). 4.
SA
was too Socialist
(nb broad appeal of National (right wing) Socialists (left wing). But now Rohm and the SA wanted a ‘second’ (socialist) revolution – they were recruiting Communists and wanted an alliance with Russia. Hitler and his industrialist sponsors were against this (i.e. choice: SA or industrialists?) Hitler chose the industrialists. Minor factors5.
Were the SA plotting a coup?
Hitler claimed that the SA were plotting a coup (some evidence).
6.
Scandalous behaviour/
homosexuality
In contrast to the Nazi concept of manliness, ‘clean-living’ culture and the family.
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