To What Extent Was the NLK a Success Journal

7/30/2019 To What Extent Was the NLK a Success Journal

1/23

TowhatextentweretheaimsofHitler(andtheNazis)

achievedintheNightoftheLongKnivesin1934?

MunichInternationalSchool

IBHistoryStandardLevel

CharlotteSchoenberger

0169070

Mr.Joshi

3930Words

May2011


2/23


0169070

2

TowhatextentweretheaimsofHitler(andtheNazis)

achievedintheNightoftheLongKnivesin1934?


3/23


0169070

3

Abstract

ThisessayinvestigatestowhatextenttheaimsofHitlerandtheNaziswere

achievedintheNightoftheLongKnivesin1934.ThemainfocusliesonHitlers

politicalaims,especiallyhisconsolidationofpowerwithintheParty.Theresearch

conductedprovidesthehistoricalcontextatthetime,layingoutNaziideologyand

theroleoftheSAasabasisforunderstandingHitlersaimsinJuneof1934.Hisaims

includedtogainrespectandsupportofthearmybyeliminatingimportantSA

leaders,includingErnstRhm.Furthermore,Hitlerintendedtosettleoldscores

withotherhighrankingNaziPartymembersthisnight,suchasvonSchleicheror

Strasser.Aimswhichwereperhapsunintendedderivefromthenightaswell,such

asincreasedpopularityamongtheVolkforhisdeterminedhandlingofthesituation.

ThescopeoftheessayincludesNaziideology,theroleoftheSA,theeventsofthe

NightoftheLongKnivesitselfandatouchuponthedebatewhetherHitlerispartof

theStructuralistorIntentionalistschool.Itbecomesclearthroughtheessaythathis

aimsfortheNightoftheLongKnivescouldbeinterpretedaseither,validating

Kershawsideaofacompromiseofbothapproaches.Thefindingsledtothe

conclusionthatallofHitlersaimswereachievedtothefullextent.Thisclearly

demonstratesthehistoricalsignificanceofthenight,asitenabledHitlertoagitateas

soleleaderoftheParty,makingdecisionsconcerningdomesticandforeignpolicy

withouthavingtofearoppositionfromwithin.

Words:258


4/23


0169070

4

ContentsPage

Abstract.3

Introduction5

HistoricalBackground..6

2.1Nazism..6

2.2TheriseoftheSA...8

2.3TheNightoftheLongKnives.....9

Analysis11

Conclusion..17

WorksCited...19

Bibliography..21


5/23


0169070

5

Chapter1Introduction

ThisessaywillfocusontheaimsHitlerandtheNazisweretryingtoachieve

throughtheNightoftheLongKnivesin1934

1

.Thisessayalsoargueswhetherallaimswereintended,orcameasabyproductofHitlersactionsandtowhatextent

theyallowedHitlertoadvanceinconsolidatinghispower.

ThirdReichhistoryhastomebeenextremelyinterestingeversince,

especiallysincemyparentswerebornaspost-warchildrenandmygrandparents

livedthroughthewarunderHitler.AstheNightoftheLongKnivesseemedtobea

keyeventintheconsolidationofHitlerspower,andinvolvedbothpoliticaland

militaristicbackground,bothofinteresttome,IdecidedtofocusmyExtendedEssay

onthisaspect.AfterbeingappointedchancelloronJanuary30th,19332,Hitlertook

variousstepstosecurehispower.TheEnablingActpassedonMarch23rd,19333

alreadyallowedHitlertorulebydecree.ThistoredowntheWeimarRepublicand

pavedthewayforalegalNazitakeover.TheNightoftheLongKnives,almostayear

later,hasfarreachingimportance,asitallowsHitlertodominateboththePartyand

thecountry,pavingtheroadtowar,whichwasalreadyforeshadowedbyLloyd

George,tobefoughtin25yearstimeaftertheTreatyofVersailles,atthreetimes

thecost.4

1Britannica.121NOTETHATYOUCANUSEP.121ORJUST121234Ross,Stewart.62


6/23


0169070

6

Chapter2HistoricalBackground

OneofHitlerskeyaimswastoseekrevengeforwhathecalledthedeath

sentenceofVersailles

5

,whichhadbeenimposedonGermanyin1919

6

.HefounditunjustthatGermanywasrestrictedtoanarmyofonly100,000men7andwas

requiredtopayunrealisticamountsofreparations.Furthermore,Hitlerwishedto

expandGermanysLebensraumintotheEast8,creatinganempirebyestablishing

GermansupremacyovertheEasternlandsandpeopleofEurope,whomhe

consideredasUntermenschen,peopleoflesserimportancethanpureGermans.

HitlerwantedapureGermanVolkconsistingofonlytheAryanrace.Theseaims,

alongwiththeweakeconomicandpoliticalsituationthatledtoaninstable

Germany,asBullockcomments,begantoattractamassfollowingforHitlerasit

hadneverdonebefore9,allowinghimtorisetopower.Sincepeoplesawinhima

determinedleaderwillingtoresurrecttheirformerGermany,Hitlerbecame

extremelypopular.Hitlersparty,theNationalSocialistGermanWorkersParty

(NSDAP),wentfromgaining2.6%ofthevotesin1928to18.3%ofthevotesin

193010.HitlersaimsarealsoclearlyreflectedintheintentionsoftheNightofthe

LongKnives,includinghiswilltoconsolidatehispowerwithinthePartyandtogain

respectofthearmy,allowinghimtocontinuewithhisforeignpolicyplans,suchas

expansiontotheEast.

2.1Nazism

NodefinitedatecanbegivenforwhenNazismbegan,however,itclearly

developedthroughouttheearlyyearsoftheWeimarRepublic,afterGermanys

defeatintheFirstWorldWarinNovember1918 11.Nazipolicieswererarelyclearly

56Housden,Dr.Martyn.478Smith,David.89Traynor,John.183WHATSHOULDYOUDOIFYOUHAVESAMEAUTHOR,DIFFERENTTEXTS?USETHEDATEOFPUBLICATIONTODISTINGUISHTHEM. 10Layton,Geoff.12811


7/23


0169070

7

definedbythePartyorHitlerhimself.Neitherthe25-pointpartyprogram12nor

HitlersautobiographicalMeinKampfcontainedclearconceptionsofhowthe

GermanworldwouldbestructuredundertheNazis13.Furthermore,theNazis

broughtwiththemanideologythatpurportedtochampionthecommonman,

whomtheyportrayedasvictimizedinaworldcontrolledbyJews14.This

emphasizestheiranti-Semiticideology,asalreadythe25-pointprogrammentioned

thatnoJewmaybeamemberoftheGermannation 15.TheJewbecametheuniversal

scapegoatfortheNazis,responsibleforallproblemsofGermanypastand

present16.Inaddition,HitlerbelievedinSocialDarwinism17,suggestingthatonly

theblondhaired,blueeyedAryan 18raceshouldsurvive.Hitlerclassifiedthis

policyastheneedforaVolksgemeinschaft,whereinhiseyesraciallysuperior

GermansweretomakeuphisstrongVolkinaharmonious,sociallyunifiedand

raciallypurecommunity19.

Inaddition,animportantaspectofNazipolicieswastheideaofLebensraum

(livingspace)intheeast,allowingGermanstoconquerEasternEuropeandexpand

GermanyintoSlavterritory.R.ButlerarguesthatthiswasacontinuityofGerman

ideology,takingtheterritorialexpansionofBrandenburg-Prussiaduringthe18th

CenturyasablueprintforHitlersaimofLebensraum20.Furthermore,Naziswere

anti-democratic,nationalisticandbelievedinastrongmilitaryforce,necessaryto

breaktheharshtermstheTreatyOfVersailleshadimposedonGermanyin1919.In

MeinKampfHitlermentionedthat60millionGermanheartsandmindsareonfire

withangerandshame21,emphasizingthehumiliationGermanyfeltduetothe

12The25-pointprogramoutlinedNaziPartykeyideas,drawnupbyDrexlerandHitlerinFebruary1920.Layton,Geoff.104[HEREAPOINTISCLARIFIED,BUT

ALSOGIVENASOURCECITATION]

13Britannica.12114Britannica.12115Layton,Geoff.1116Layton,Geoff.1317Layton,Geoff.1318Smith,David.619Layton,Geoff.18420Butler,RohanreferredtoinSmith,David.72122.06.2010


8/23


0169070

8

Treaty.HitlerwasnotwillingtoacceptGermanysmilitarydefeat;hewishedto

createastrongandpowerfulGermanyreflectingtheGermanicspiritofthe

nineteenthcentury22.

2.2TheriseoftheSA

Betweenthe1920sand1930s,theSturmAbteilung(SA,stormtroopers,also

knownasBrownshirts)playedavitalroleinsupportingHitlerinhisrisetopower23

bydefendinghismeetingsandattackingopponents.TheSAwasknowntobean

organizationwithextrememethodsofviolentintimidation24.Theytendedto

representthepopulist,anti-capitalistleftwingoftheNSDAP.Itwasfoundedby

HitlerinMunichin1921anddrewitsearlymembershiplargelyfromunemployed

youngmen.25Itofferedtotheseanopportunitytoprovetheirmanlinessand

providedthemwithahierarchicalorganization,whichputthemintouniformsand

structuredtheirlives26.ItplacedlargeimportanceontheSocialistaspectofthe

Partysideals,notwillingtocompromisesimplytosatisfyconservativeelites.The

SAposedasadefenderoforderandstructure,anaspectHitlerembodiedinhis

electioncampaigns.ItwascloselylinkedtoNazimilitaristicideology,an

indispensablepartoftheNaziseizureofpower 27andledtopeoplesobedience

throughalmostuniversalfearandintimidatingHitlersopponents28.From

January1931theSAwasleadbyErnstRhm,whoharboredradialanti-capitalist

notionsanddreamedofmakingtheSAintoGermanysmainmilitaryforce.29Under

Rhm,SAmembershipswelledto400,000by1932andtoperhaps2,000,00020

22Smith,David.72324Britannica.27325Marsden,Gordon.1426Marsden,Gordon.1427Evans,RichardJ.45528Evans,RichardJ.45529Britannica.273


9/23


0169070

9

timesthesizeoftheregulararmy-bythetimethatHitler30wasappointed

chancelloronJanuary30th,193331.

Rhmwasablatanthomosexual,aheavydrinkerandenjoyedthebloodand

violenceofwarandpoliticalstreetbattles32.Heopenlydescribedhimselfasan

immatureandwickedman,whowarandunrestappealtomorethangood

bourgeoisorder.33RhmhadbeenaclosefriendofHitler,introducinghimtothe

DeutscheArbeiterPartei(DAP)in1919.HitlerfearedadeteriorationinRhms

loyalty,sincehespokeofasecondrevolution(whichwouldimplyfurther

revolutionandmorechangetothecurrentsystem)thatwouldallowtheSAto

receivetherewardstheyfelthadbeendeniedthem. 34.Himmler,leaderofthe

Schutzstaffel(SS),thereforemovedhismenagainstRhmunderHitlersdecree,

onJune30th,1934intheNightoftheLongKnives35.

2.3TheNightoftheLongKnives,June1934

TheNightoftheLongKnives,alsoknownasBloodPurge,wasa

campaignofassassinationunleashedbyHitleronthenightofJune30th,1934,

againstthegrowingpoweroftheSA36,includingtheassassinationoflongtime

friendandsupporterofHitlerandleaderoftheSA.,ErnstRhm.

VariousfactorsledtotheNightoftheLongKnives.By1934,Hitlerhad

realizedthatthearmywastheonlyinstitution,whichstillhadthecapabilityto

removehimfrompowerbymilitaristicforce.Thearmyhadnotbeenvery

supportiveofHitlerandthenotverydecentNazichapssofar,whotheyclaimed

mustbesurveyedwithgreatcaution37.EvenmorethanHitler,however,thearmy

andtheSSweredistrustfulofanddislikedtheSAandregardedthematbestwith

30Britannica.2733132Layton,Geoff.16133Layton,Geoff.16134Rees,Laurence.5535Rees,Laurence.5536Snyder,LouisL.3137Carsten,FrancisLudwig.340


10/23


0169070

10

suspicionandmorefrequentlywithopenhostility38.ByJune1934theysawthe

chancetoexterminatethem.HimmlerandHeydrich,leadersoftheSSbeganto

spreadrumorsthattheSAandRhmwereplanninganoutrightPutsch39.Some

historians,suchasBullock,however,claimthatthePutschwasaninvention,made

upatthetimetodeceiveHitlertoactagainstRhmandtheSA40.Himmlermetwith

membersoftheGeneralStaffandworkedoutasecretagreementensuring

cooperationbetweentheSSandtheArmyinanyactiontobetakenagainstthe

SA41.

HitlerlandedinMunichonSaturday,June30th,1934tosettlescoreswith

RhmandotherimportantSAleaders.HedroveouttoBadWiessee(nearMunich)

toarrestRhmandthusendedafifteen-yearassociationbetweenHitlerandoneof

theoriginalmembersoftheNaziParty42,whenRhmandhisfollowerswereshot

inMunich43.Althoughtheproposeddeathlistwasmadeupof83names,including

high-rankingSAleaderswhohadnotclearlysetthemselvesagainstRhmand

individuals,suchasKurtvonSchleicher44(),ErnstJung(),andGeorg

Strasser45,theoperationlastlyincludedmorevictimsthanintended.Itisestimated

thatupto400peopleweremurdered 46.Countlessdeathswerealsosaidtobe

unrecorded,thereforethelistisprobablyfarmoreextensivethanknown;

emphasizingthatHitlerwasevenmorebrutalandvigorousthanknownatthetime.

TheReichgovernmentsEnablingLawofJuly3,1934,retroactivelylegalized

themassacre47,justifyingitasastateemergencyagainstanallegedRhmPutsch.

38Garcia,Nicola.203940Bullock,Allan.1214142

43Snyder,LouisL.80944KurtvonSchleicherwastheformerchancellor,EdgarJungwastheconservative

journalistandGeorgStrasserwaspartoftheNSDAP,withanti-capitalisticandanti-Marxistviews.HewantedtobreakofftheleftwingoftheNSDAPin1932under

Schleicher,whoofferedhimthepostofPrussianprimeminister.

45Snyder,LouisL.80946Geoff,Layton.4847Snyder,LouisL.809


11/23


0169070

11

TheseaimsofHitlerarekeytounderstandingthescopeoftheNightoftheLong

Knives.HistoriansstillarguetodaywhetherHitlersaimsemergedfromprevious

Germanpoliticsorwhethertheroleoftheindividualwaskeytohispath.

Structuralists,suchasFischerorShirer,theAmericanjournalist,claimthatNazism

wasbutalogicalcontinuationofGermanhistory48,drawingattentiontocontinuity

withthepast:theexistenceofandinfluenceofconservativeelites49ortheprevalent

desireofGermansforpower.Onthecontrary,Intentionalists,suchasHildebrandor

JckelfindHitlerismtobeasynonymforNazism50,stressingtheroleofthe

individualintheNaziseizureandconsolidationofpower.Kershaw,accreditingthe

courseofhistorytoacombinationoffactors,seeingtheNightoftheLongKnivesas

apropagandacoupparexcellence 51liesinthemiddleofthesetwoschools,

commentingontheaimsofHitlerfrombothperspectives.Inthenextsectionthese

aimswillbeevaluatedinordertoreachaconclusiononhowsuccessfultheNightof

theLongKniveswasforHitlersconsolidationofpower.

Chapter3Analysis

HitlersmainaimsoftheNightoftheLongKnivesincludedgainingthefull

supportofthearmy,consequentlyallowinghimtofollowthroughwithhisforeign

policyplans,consolidatinghispowerwithintheNSDAPandoverthecountryand

doingsobyeradicatingRhmandtheSA.

Thefirstandmostprominentgoalwastofinallygainthefullsupportofthe

Reichswehr(army).Hitlerknewthatwithoutthearmyhewouldbepowerlessand

thattheir(oldgenerals/army)backingwasindispensableifheweretoconsolidate

48Shirer,WilliamasseeninLayton,Geoff.15649Layton,Geoff.15650Layton,Geoff.15651Kershaw,Ian.95


12/23


0169070

12

hispower52.HisideaofexpansiontowardstheEast,theforeignpolicy,including

theideaofLebensraumcouldneverbeputintoplacewithoutanintactarmytoback

himup.Inaddition,thearmyalsohadthepowertooverthrowHitler,this

knowledgeonlyincreasedHitlersurgetogaintheirsupport.SinceHitlerneeded

thearmybyhisside,itwasonlyaquestionoftimebeforeRhmandhisfellow

advocatesofasecondrevolutionhadtogo,intheinterestsofconcordwiththe

generals53.ThroughtheNightoftheLongKnives,HitlerconvincedtheReichswehr

thattheyweretobemoreimportantthantheSA.

ThearistocraticReichswehrgenerals()consideredtheSAtobelittlemore

thanabunchofgangsters54,whodecreasedtheirownmilitaryimportance.That

HitlersaimofgainingthesupportoftheReichswehrwasclearlyachievedwas

demonstratedbytheoathofallegiance,swornonthedayofHindenburgsdeath,

August2nd,193455,toHitlerinperson.Thisoath,sworntoHitlerasanindividual

ratherthantothecountryofGermanyaftertheNightoftheLongKnives,proved

howpowerfulHitlerhadbecome.HenowhadReichswehrtosupporthim,swornby

oathtoobeyhimuntiltheirdeath.Furthermore,thisshowsthatthearmywasready

toworkforhimandbegantorespecthim;consequentlythedoorwasfullyopened

tothecrucialextensionofHitlerspowerfollowingHindenburgsdeath56.The

respectofthearmywasincreasedasHitlerbegantoexpandhisterritoryinthe

comingyears.

DuringthesuccessfulreoccupationoftheRhinelandinMarch193657,for

example,whenHitlerknewandproclaimedthatifFrancehadmarchedintothe

Rhineland,wewouldhavehadtowithdrawwithourtailsbetweenorlegs58,Hitler

gainedmoresupportofthearmy.ThebackingofthearmyenabledHitlertopursue

hisaimofseekingrevengefortheTreatyofVersailles.Additionalevents,suchasthe

52Fest,Joachim.45253Burleigh,Michael.15954Lowe,Norman.3175556Kershaw,Ian.3165758


13/23


0169070

13

AnschlusswithAustriainMarch1938 59,whichhadalsobeenforbiddentoGermany

intheTreatyin1919,ledtothesilencingofevenhislastcriticswithinthe

Reichswehr,sinceitprovedthathewasreadytotakeriskstoachieveterritorial

gains.Yet,itseemsnotallofthearmysincerelybackedHitlerandsomemembers

continuedtoplotagainsthim,however,toolateandunsuccessfulastheJulybomb

attackof1944,forexample,demonstrates.

Inaddition,throughtheNightoftheLongKnives,Hitlerwishedto

immediatelyendanythreatofasecondrevolution60,whichRhmandtheSAwere

apparentlyinfavorof.RhmarguedthattheGermanpeoplewillfallintodespair

andwillbeaneasypreyforthebloodstainedfrenzycomingfromthedepthsof

Asia,iftheGermanrevolutioniswreckedbyreactionaryopposition,incompetence

ofindolence.61Inaddition,RhmposedapotentialthreattoHitler,sincehewas

stronglyopposedtoseeingtheSAdegenerateintoamerepropagandaappendage 62.

Rhmdesiredtoformapeoplesmilitia,combiningthearmyandtheSA,withhimas

theleader.However,theyoungThirdReichlackedstabilityduetothebullying

arroganceandrowdydisturbancesofthepower-crazedSA 63.Hitlerwasafraidthat

theSAwouldbegintoworkagainsthim.Afteryearsofloyaltyandaidinghimin

comingtopower,hesawthemasunnecessary.Whentryingtoconsolidatehis

powerwithintheParty,itbecamecleartohimthattheSAwouldonlybeprofitable

forhiminasubduedform,withacompletelyloyalleader,aqualityRhmseemedto

lack64.HitlerwantednooneinhisPartyconcernedwithaprivatepowerbase65,

ratherthansolelyabidinghisorders.AsFestmentions,Hitlerstated,the

communitywithinthepartymovementmustbeincrediblyloyal66.Herealizedthat

5960Kershaw,Ian.8561Lang,Sen.1762Layton,Geoff.4663Kershaw,Ian.8564Rhmseemeddesperatetoincreasehisownpower,hepersistedinhisdemands,forcingHitlertochoosebetweentheSAandtheReichswehrLowe,Norman.31765Fest,Joachim.45466Fest,Joachim.454


14/23


0169070

14

itwascrucialtoselectpeoplewhoononehandarecompetent,ontheotherhand

cancarryoutthemeasuresofadministrationinblindobedience67.

HitlerdidnotseethesedesiredqualitiesinotherinfluentialNaziParty

leaderseither,suchasStrasser,whohadacentralizedstructureofParty

Management68andvonSchleicherwhomhekilledinthesamenight.Hitlerhadcast

Strasserintheroleoftraitor,afterhehadpleadedinvainforhispointofview69,

tryingtoconvinceHitlertojoinabroad-basednationalcoalition.Schleicher,as

formerheadofthearmy,wasstillonHitlersblacklist,sincehehadapparently

intendedto()eliminatetheReichstagbypresidentialdecree,toputthearmyin

controlandtosuppresstheNazisaltogether.70Inaddition,twoofPapensadvisors

wereshotdeadbytheSS()becausePapenhadmadeaspeechatMarburg

criticizingHitler.Papenhimselfwasprobablysavedonlybythefactthathewasa

closefriendofPresidentHindenburg.71HitlersawtheNightoftheLongKnivesas

anopportunitytoremoveErnstRhmandfigureswhomheconsidereddisloyal,

allowinghimtobebackedupbyaPartywithnoself-interests,agitatingsolelyunder

Hitlersorders.

However,itcanalsobearguedthatRhmhadnosuchrevolutionaryideas,or

atleastnottoanextentthatitwouldhaveharmedthemovement.Historians,such

asKershaworBullockarguethatthewholestoryofanimminentcoupdtatwasa

lie72fabricatedtoexaggerateRhmsrevolutionaryideas.Thehigh-level

machinations73oftheReichswehrwereunknowntothepublic.AsBullockargues,

thisideaofasecondrevolutionwaspossiblymadeuseofatthetimebyGoering

andHimmlertodeceiveHitlerandforcehimtomoveagainstRhm74.Onlythe

innerpowerelitwassaidtohaveknownoftheirplanofremovingthethreat

67Fest,Joachim.45468Evans,RichardJ.30369Evans,RichardJ.302-370Evans,RichardJ.30671Lowe,Norman.31772Bullock,Alan.29573Kershaw,Ian.8574Bullock,Alan.295


15/23


0169070

15

posedbythemassive,pseudo-revolutionaryforceledbyErnstRhm75.Inanycase,

however,byeradicatingRhmandotherhigh-rankingSAgenerals,Hitlerremoved

theorganizationthatwasseriouslydestabilizingtheregimeanddirectly

threateninghisposition76.Onecanconcludethatthisaimwasfulfilledthroughthe

NightoftheLongKnives,sincethePartymembersHitlerwasmostsuspiciousabout

werenowdeadandcouldnolongerthreatenhisposition.BykillingRhm,Hitler

alsoemergedastheonewhocleansedpubliclifeofthedissoluteimmoralityand

corruptionoftheSAleaders77.Althoughperhapsnotintendedatfirst,hisimage

wasstrengthenedthroughhisactionsoftheRhmPutsch.

Onemightnothaveexpected,thatbymassshootingformercomrades

withoutasemblanceoforderlytrialorsentenceinacourtoflaw78Hitlerwould

havegainedmoresympathyfromthepeople.However,althoughperhapsnotan

intendedaimofHitlerwhenplanningtheNightoftheLongKnives,thisdecisive

handlingoftheproblem79impressedmostofthepopulationandledtoan

enormousincreaseinsupport,especiallyamongthosewhohadformerlybeen

hesitantintheirattitudestoNazism80.ThepubliccelebratedHitlerasahero,who

hadradicallydestructedtheenemiesofthepeople81.Theysupportedhisactions

andfoundtheiridealisticviewofhimasadetermined,yetruthlessrulerconfirmed.

ThemisinterpretationasprotectionoftheVolkstoodincontrasttothepolitical

significanceforconsolidatinghispower,whichitheldforHitlerhimself.Inhis

speechtoReichstagonthe13thofJuly82,Hitleropenlyacceptedfullresponsibility

foractionamountingtomassmurder83.Thisallowedhimtoemergeasthe

supremejudgeoftheGermanpeople,ashementions,whoisresponsibleforthe

75Kershaw,Ian.8576Kershaw,Ian.31677Kershaw,Ian.9178Kershaw,Ian.8579Lowe,Norman.31780Kershaw,Ian.8581Kershaw,Ian.868283Kershaw,Ian.88


16/23


0169070

16

fateoftheGermanpeople.84Hejustifiedhisactionsasvitalstepstomaintain

securityandorderwithinthecountry.Byspeakingopenlytothepublichegained

evenmoresupportandapparentlyhisspeechhadaliberatingeffect85,sinceit

revealedtheactualplottothepeople.Bygainingmasssupportasabyproduct

fromhisactionsonJune30th,1934,Hitlercouldbeconsideredanopportunist,

simplyexploitingcircumstancesastheyoccurred86,asMommsensuggests.This

allowedHitlertoachieveevenmoregoalsthanactuallyintendedwiththeNightof

theLongKnives,bytakingtheinitiativetoleadpublicopinion.87Ruthlessnessin

theinterestofbourgeoisorder88boostedhispopularityandonceagainenabled

himtostrengthenhisleadingposition.

BycrushingtheoppositionthroughNightoftheLongKnives,Hitlerknew

thathispositionwithinthePartywouldbefortified.Hewouldnolongerhavetofear

oppositionfromwithin,allowinghimtoconcentrateonforeignanddomesticpolicy.

SucheradicationalsoledtotheenforcementofGleichschaltung,Hitlersideaofthe

governmenttryingtocontrolasmanyaspectsoflifeaspossible89.Byeliminating

partiesandtradeunions,heendedeverylikelysourceofresistance90,whichcould

influencethepeople.Bycreatingorganizations,whichalreadytheyouthwere

obligedtojoin,suchastheHitlerJugend(HJ)ortheBundDeutscherMdchen(BDM),

HitlerbegantocontroleveryaspectofGermanlife,acquiringabsolutepowerover

time.InadditiontotheEnablingAct,alreadybeenputintoplaceinMarch193391,

theNightoftheLongKnivesenabledHitlertorulepurelybydecree.

ThissectionhasdemonstratedthatHitlerachievedhisaimofconsolidatinghis

power,especiallysincetheNightoftheLongKnivesrevealedonceagainmost

84Fest,Joachim.46985Kershaw,Ian.8986Mommsen,HansasreferredtoinLowe,Norman.32187TheWorldatWarDVD88Kershaw,Ian.9389Lowe,Norman.31290Lowe,Norman.31291


17/23


0169070

17

graphicallyjusthowstrongHitlersholdoverthepartyhadbecome92.

Furthermore,thecrushingoftheSAleadership,asKershawsuitablymentions,

showedwhatHitlerwantedittoshow:thatthoseopposingtheregimehadto

reckonwithlosingtheirheads.Throughthisruthlesskillingitbecameevident,

alreadybyJuneof1934,thatHitlerwouldstopatnothingtoholdontopower,that

hewouldnothesitatetousetheutmostbrutalitytosmashthoseinhisway.93

Chapter4Conclusion

ThePurgeonthe30thofJune,1934allowedHitlertoconsolidatehispower.

Allofhisintendedgoalswerereached,forinstancebysidingwiththeReichswehr,

Hitlerhadthestrongestpower-basetobackhimup,allowinghisforeignpolicy

planstobeputintoeffect.Furthermore,heremovedinner-partyopposition,by

settlingoldscoreswithPartymembersconflictinghim,suchasStrasser,von

Schleicherordisloyalrivals,suchasErnstRhm,consolidatinghispositionwithin

theParty.Inaddition,bydemonstratinghispowertotheNSDAPandthe

conservativeelitesandshowingclearlythathewasgoingtoactruthlesslyhe

ensuredthatoppositionwouldnotreoccur.ThePurgeestablishedapatternof

violencethatcharacterizedtheNaziregime;usingforcetoestablishanempire.

Furthermore,unintendedpositiveeffectscamealongwithit,suchasincreased

popularityforhisdeterminedcourseofaction.Theaimswereequallybeneficiary

forHitler,allowinghimtoincreasehispowerinvariousaspects,bothwithinthe

PartyandamonghisVolk.

RegardingHitlersactualintentionswiththeNightoftheLongKnives,some

unresolvedquestionsstillarise.Otheraimsmighthavebeenkeytohisactions,such

asthefearofblackmailandexposure,asMachtanargues,sincehisfriends,

92Kershaw,Ian.24993Kershaw,Ian.316


18/23


0169070

18

includingErnstRhm,apparentlyknewabouthisearlyhomosexualrelationships94.

Furthermore,anotherunresolvedquestioniswhetherthecompleteReichswehrwas

sincerelyonhissideafter1934,consideringtheJulybombplotofhigherechelonsof

thearmyagainstHitlerin194495,despitetheswornoathofallegiance.Inaddition,

thedebatewhetherHitlerintendedalltheactionscarriedoutorwhetherhewasan

opportunistisstillongoing,andalthoughbothsideshavecompellingarguments,

throughmyresearchKershawsargumentseemstometobethemostvalid.

ThroughtheNightoftheLongKnives,Hitlerwasreadytorulewithabsolute

powerandtobringaboutthechangeshewaspromisingtoGermany.Fromnowon

hecouldconcentrateonerectinghisNewGermany,undertheFhrerprinzip,

whichwouldoverturntheTreatyofVersaillesandestablishGermanyasthemajor

Europeanpower.96HitlernowbegantoruleoveraVolk,which,asMussolinionce

said,wouldbelieve,obeyandfight97,andintheyearsfollowing()therestof

Europe,andtheworld,wouldlearnjusthowpoisonousthatmixturecouldbe.98

94Lowe,Norman.31795Keitel,Wilhelm.19296Mcdonough,Frank.899798Evans,RichardJ.451


19/23


0169070

19

WorksCited

1. "AdolfHitler."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.2010.

2. Bullock,Allan.HitleraStudyinTryanny.NewYork:Harper,1962.Print.3. Burleigh,Michael.TheThirdReich:ANewHistory.1Amereded.NewYork:

Hill&Wang,2000.Print.

4. Butler,Rohan.D'O..TheRootsofNationalSocialism,1783-1933.Oxford:Faber&Faber,1942.Print.

5. Carsten,F.L..TheReichswehrandpolitics:1918to1933.Oxford:ClarendonPress,1966.Print.

6. Domarus,Max.TheEssentialHitler:SpeechesandCommentary.Wauconda:Bolchazy-CarducciPublishers,2007.Print.

7. EncyclopaediaBritannica.15thEditioned.NewYork:EncyclopaediaBritannicaInc.,2007.Print.

8. Evans,RichardJ..TheComingoftheThirdReich.Boston:Penguin(Non-Classics),2005.Print.

9. Fest,JoachimC..Hitler.NewYork:Harcourt,2002.Print.10.Garcia,Nicola."AnInternalPurge."20thCenturyHistoryReviewApr.2009:

17-20.Print.

11.Hitler,1934Adolf."NightoftheLongKnives."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.31Oct.2010.

12.Housden,Dr.Martyn."AdolfHitler-ADisasterfortheGermanNation."20thCenturyHistoryReviewSep.2006:1-6.Print.

13.Keitel,Wilhelm,andWalterGrlitz.ThememoirsofField-MarshalKeitelEditedwithanintrod.andepiloguebyWalterGorlitz..NewYork:SteinAndDay,1966.Print.

14.Kershaw,Ian.The"HitlerMyth":ImageandRealityintheThirdReich.Reissueed.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,USA,2001.Print.

15.Lang,Sen."TheNightoftheLongKnives,1934."ModernHistoryReviewSep.2003:16-17.Print.

16.Layton,Geoff.Germany:TheThirdReich,1933-45(AccesstoHistory).2ed.London:Hodder&StoughtonEducational,2000.Print.

17.Lowe,Norman.MasteringModernWorldHistory,4thEd.(PalgraveMasterSeries).4ed.NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan,2005.Print.

18.Marsden,Gordon."PoliticalViolenceandtheNaziSeizureofPower."HistoryToday35(1985):8-13.Print.

ONTHEWORKSCITEDPAGE,INCLUDEALLTHESOURCESYOUHAVECITEDINTHEFOOTNOTES.

MUSTBEINALPHABETICALORDER, SHOULDLOOKLIKETHEBIBLIOGRAPHY,AND EACHSOURCENEEDSTOBETHEREONLYONCE.


20/23


0169070

20

19.Mcdonough,Frank.Conflict,CommunismandFascism:Europe18901945(CambridgePerspectivesinHistory).NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,2001.Print

20.Rees,Laurence.TheNazis:AWarningFromHistory.London:BbcBooks,1998.Print.

21.Ross,Stewart.FirstWorldWar.London:EvansBrothers,1997.Print.22.Smith,David."OriginsofNationalSocialism."ModernHistoryReview7.1(1995):6-8.Print

23.Snyder,LouisL.EncyclopediaoftheThirdReich.NewYorkandWashingtonD.C.:DaCapoPress,1994.Print.

24."TheHistoryPlace-WorldWarIIinEuropeTimeline:March23,1933-ReichstagpassesEnablingAct."TheHistoryPlace.N.p.,n.d.Web.30Sept.2010.

25.TheWorldatWar.Dir.LaurenceOlivier.Perf...FremantleMedia,1973.DVD.

26."TimelineofWorldWarOne."HistoryLearningSite.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.2010.

27.Traynor,John.Europe,1890-1990(ChallengingHistory).NewEded.Surrey:NelsonThornesLtd,1991.Print.

28."VerdictsontheTreatyofVersailles."GCSEModernWorldHistory.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.2010..


21/23


0169070

21

BibliographyTHISISSIMILARTOTHECITATIONSPAGEBUTINCLUDESALLMATERIALYOUHAVEUSEDTOUNDERSTANDAND

RESEARCHYOURTOPIC.EVERYTHINGONTHECIT.PAGE,MUSTALSOBEHEREOFCOURSE!

1. "AdolfHitler."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.2010.

2. "Anschluss."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.30Sept.2010..

3. Bullock,Allan.HitleraStudyinTryanny.NewYork:Harper,1962.Print.4. Burleigh,Michael.TheThirdReich:ANewHistory.1Amereded.NewYork:

Hill&Wang,2000.Print.5. Butler,R.D'O..TheRootsofNationalSocialism,1783-1933.Oxford:Faber&

Faber,1942.Print.6. Carsten,F.L..TheReichswehrandpolitics:1918to1933.Oxford:Clarendon

Press,1966.Print.

7. Clare,JohnD.."RoadtoWar-Hitler'sAims."GCSEModernWorldHistoryRevisionSite.N.p.,n.d.Web.22June2010..

8. Davidson,Eugene.TheUnmakingofAdolfHitler.Columbia,MO:UniversityofMissouriPress,2004.Print.

9. Domarus,Max.TheEssentialHitler:SpeechesandCommentary.Wauconda:Bolchazy-CarducciPublishers,2007.Print.

10.EncyclopaediaBritannica.15thEditioned.NewYork:EncyclopaediaBritannicaInc.,2007.Print.

11."ErnstRoehm:NaziGermany."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.2010.

12.Evans,RichardJ..TheComingoftheThirdReich.Boston:Penguin(Non-Classics),2005.Print.

13.Fest,JoachimC..Hitler.NewYork:Harcourt,2002.Print.14.Garcia,Nicola."AnInternalPurge."20thCenturyHistoryReviewApr.2009:

17-20.Print.

15.Hitler,Adolf.MeinKampf.NewYork:MarinerBooks,1998.Print.16.Hitler,1934Adolf."NightoftheLongKnives."SpartacusEducational-Home

Page.N.p.,n.d.Web.31Oct.2010.

17.Housden,Dr.Martyn."AdolfHitler-ADisasterfortheGermanNation."20thCenturyHistoryReviewSep.2006:1-6.Print.

18.Keitel,Wilhelm,andWalterGrlitz.ThememoirsofField-MarshalKeitelEditedwithanintrod.andepiloguebyWalterGorlitz..NewYork:SteinAndDay,1966.Print.

19.Kershaw,Ian.Hitler.1stTHUSeditioned.AllenLane:Penguin,2008.Print.20.Kershaw,Ian.The"HitlerMyth":ImageandRealityintheThirdReich.

Reissueed.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,USA,2001.Print.

21.KulturreferatMnchen."NationalSocialisminMunich."ThemenGeschichtspfadDec.2007:95.Print.


22/23


0169070

22

22.Lang,Sen."TheNightoftheLongKnives,1934."ModernHistoryReviewSep.2003:16-17.Print.

23.Layton,Geoff.Germany:TheThirdReich,1933-45(AccesstoHistory).2ed.London:Hodder&StoughtonEducational,2000.Print.

24.Lowe,Norman.MasteringModernWorldHistory,4thEd.(PalgraveMasterSeries).4ed.NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan,2005.Print.

25.Marsden,Gordon."PoliticalViolenceandtheNaziSeizureofPower."HistoryToday35(1985):8-13.Print.

26.Mcdonough,Frank.Conflict,CommunismandFascism:Europe18901945(CambridgePerspectivesinHistory).NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,2001.Print

27.Newton,Melanie."NationalSocialisminMunich."ThemenGeschichtsPfad1(2007):1-95.Print.

28."Personenbeschreibung|GeorgStrasser|DeutscherPolitiker."ZweiterWeltkrieg-Nationalsozialismus|Daten-Verlaufu.Zusammenfassung.N.p.,n.d.Web.3Oct.2010.29.Reed-Purvis,Julian."TheGermansandtheHolocaustPart1."ModernHistory

Review:TheOriginsoftheColdWar12(2000):24-27.Print.

30.Rees,Laurence.TheNazis:AWarningFromHistory.London:BbcBooks,1998.Print.

31."Rhineland1936."HistoryLearningSite.N.p.,n.d.Web.30Sept.2010..

32.Ross,Stewart.FirstWorldWar.London:EvansBrothers,1997.Print.33.Smith,David."Themes-OriginsofNationalSocialism."ModernHistory

Review7.1(1995):6-8.Print.

34.Snyder,LouisL..EncyclopediaoftheThirdReich.NewYorkandWashingtonD.C.:DaCapoPress,1994.Print.

35."TheHistoryPlace-WorldWarIIinEuropeTimeline:March23,1933-ReichstagpassesEnablingAct."TheHistoryPlace.N.p.,n.d.Web.30Sept.

2010.36.TheHistoryPlace."TheTriumphofHitler."TheHistoryPlace.N.p.,n.d.Web.

9Mar.2010.37."TheNationalArchives|Heroes&Villains|Mussolini&Abyssinia|Why

invadeAbyssinia?|Source2."TheNationalArchives.N.p.,n.d.Web.3Oct.

2010.

38.TheTreatyofVersailles."HistoryLearningSite.N.p.,n.d.Web.22June2010.

39.TheWorldatWar.Dir.LaurenceOlivier.Perf...FremantleMedia,1973.DVD.40."TimelineofWorldWarOne."HistoryLearningSite.N.p.,n.d.Web.27Oct.

2010.


23/23


0169070

43."VersaillesTreaty."SpartacusEducational-HomePage.N.p.,n.d.Web.3Oct.2010.

To What Extent Was the NLK a Success Journal

Documents

Transcript of To What Extent Was the NLK a Success Journal