Download In 1920 the newly formed German Workers` Party needed its own

Nazi Germany - Stormtroopers Sturm Abteilung SA
At the end of World War One many German
soldiers became members of the Freikorps
ad hoc right-wing militia groups used to break
up Communist meetings and prevent a
Communist uprising.
In 1920 the newly formed German
Workers' Party needed its own militia
group to protect party members from
hecklers
and
opponents.
Some
Freikorps members joined the party and
took on this role. One such person was
Ernst Röhm, a former Bavarian Army
Captain. Originally called Ordnertruppe,
they were re-formed as the Turn-und
Sportabteilung (Sport and Gymnastic
Division).
On 4th November 1921 the Nazi party
held a large meeting. Large numbers of
demonstrators against Hitler and the
Nazi Party were prevented from
disrupting the meeting by the Turn-und
Sportabteilung. Following this event
they became known as Sturm Abteilung
(Stormtroopers) abbreviated to SA.
Hitler's Stormtroopers wore a uniform of khaki brown shirts with swastika armband on left
arm, khaki brown trousers with, brown belt, brown combat boots and khaki brown peaked
cap with red trim. They were often called by the nickname Brownshirts because of the
brown shirts they wore.
Following the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923 and the subsequent
imprisonment of Adolf Hitler, the SA were banned from April 1924 to February 1925. To
combat the ban the SA changed its name to Frontbann. Ernst Röhm who had not been
imprisoned but had been discharged from the army became leader of the Frontbann.
When Hitler was released from prison Röhm, who disagreed with some of his policies
handed over the leadership to Wolf Graf von Helldorf and three years later, in 1928,
emigrated to Bolivia.
In November 1926 Franz Felix von Pfeffer von Salomon took over the leadership. Von
Salomon wanted to increase power for the SA by securing seats in the Reichstag. Hitler
refused to allow the SA to play any part in government and von Salomon resigned in
August 1930.
In 1931 Hitler asked Röhm to return and lead the SA. Röhm agreed and upon his return
he quickly increased the membership of the SA. After the Nazis came to power in 1933
Röhm began to make moves towards merging the SA with the German army. It was his
intention to become the head of the military forces in Germany. In January 1934 Röhm
sent a message to the Minister of Defence, Werner von Blomberg, demanding that the SA
replace the Reichswehr. Blomberg, who was already concerned about the growing power
of Röhm and the SA joined forces with Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering and Reinhard
Heydrich against Ernst Röhm. A dossier was compiled that offered evidence that Ernst
Röhm was secretly plotting to over throw the Nazis and take power for himself and the SA.
Presented with the 'evidence', Hitler had no choice but to take action and on 30th June
1934 the Night of the Long Knives saw the murder of leading members of the SA. The
action, which saw the deaths of leading SA members was legalised by Hitler on July 13th
when he made a speech, which was approved by the cabinet, stating that the Night of the
Long Knives was an act of self-defence against the state.
After the Night of the Long Knives, the SA continued in existence but with a much reduced
membership as young men chose to join the regular army rather than the SA. The rise of
the SS, Schutz Staffeinel, led by Heinrich Himmler saw the elimination of the SA's power.
1.