Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 3: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39 - 1 The creation of a…
Full specification wording
Option 31: Key topic 3: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39 - 1 The creation of a dictatorship, 1933–34: The threat from Röhm and the SA, the Night of the Long Knives. The death of Hindenburg. Hitler becomes Führer, the army oath of allegiance.
By 1934, Ernst Röhm and the SA posed a significant threat to Hitler.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
By 1934, Ernst Röhm and the SA posed a significant threat to Hitler. The SA was vast, and Röhm wanted it to replace the regular army, alarming military leaders whose support Hitler needed. To secure army backing and eliminate internal rivals, Hitler orchestrated the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, purging Röhm and other SA leaders, alongside old political enemies. This ruthless action neutralised the SA and won the army's gratitude. When President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler immediately merged the offices of Chancellor and President to become Führer, the undisputed supreme leader of Germany. On the same day, the regular army swore a personal oath of allegiance directly to Hitler, rather than to the German state, cementing his absolute dictatorial control over the nation and its armed forces.
What earns the marks
- Identify the threat posed by Ernst Röhm, who controlled the millions-strong SA and advocated for a second revolution and the absorption of the regular army.
- Describe the events of the Night of the Long Knives (June 1934), where Hitler used the SS to murder Röhm, SA leaders, and other political opponents like von Schleicher.
- Explain the significance of Hindenburg's death in August 1934, which removed the final constitutional check on Hitler's power.
- Detail the creation of the title of Führer and the significance of the army swearing a personal oath of allegiance to Hitler, securing military loyalty.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Believing the Night of the Long Knives was directed against communists or Jews.
Put it right: Specify that it was a purge of internal Nazi rivals (the SA) and conservative political opponents.
Stating that Hitler became President.
Put it right: Explain that Hitler merged the roles of Chancellor and President to create the entirely new position of Führer.
Misunderstanding the army oath.
Put it right: Emphasise that the oath was sworn personally to Adolf Hitler, not to the German state or the constitution, binding the military directly to him.
Exam tips
- Use the Night of the Long Knives to demonstrate how Hitler chose the support of the traditional elites over his own radical supporters.
- Connect the death of Hindenburg directly to the army oath; the army could only swear allegiance to Hitler once the President, their former commander, was dead.
- Highlight the transition from the SA to the SS as the primary instrument of terror following the purge of Röhm.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option 31: Key topic 3: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39 - 1 The creation of a dictatorship, 1933–34: The threat from Röhm and the SA, the Night of the Long Knives. The death of Hindenburg. Hitler becomes Führer, the army oath of allegiance. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Who was the primary target of the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934?
Listen
By 1934, Ernst Röhm and the SA posed a significant threat to Hitler. The SA was vast, and Röhm wanted it to replace the regular army, alarming military leaders whose support Hitler needed. To secure army backing and eliminate internal rivals, Hitler orchestrated the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, purging Röhm and other SA leaders, alongside old political enemies. This ruthless action neutralised the SA and won the army's gratitude. When President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler immediately merged the offices of Chancellor and President to become Führer, the undisputed supreme leader of Germany. On the same day, the regular army swore a personal oath of allegiance directly to Hitler, rather than to the German state, cementing his absolute dictatorial control over the nation and its armed forces. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the threat posed by Ernst Röhm, who controlled the millions-strong SA and advocated for a second revolution and the absorption of the regular army. Describe the events of the Night of the Long Knives (June 1934), where Hitler used the SS to murder Röhm, SA leaders, and other political opponents like von Schleicher. Explain the significance of Hindenburg's death in August 1934, which removed the final constitutional check on Hitler's power. Detail the creation of the title of Führer and the significance of the army swearing a personal oath of allegiance to Hitler, securing military loyalty. A common slip: Believing the Night of the Long Knives was directed against communists or Jews. Instead, Specify that it was a purge of internal Nazi rivals (the SA) and conservative political opponents. Exam tip: Use the Night of the Long Knives to demonstrate how Hitler chose the support of the traditional elites over his own radical supporters.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Night of the Long Knives
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Führer
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Army oath of allegiance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Night of the Long Knives
- In June 1934 Hitler orchestrated this purge, murdering Röhm, SA leaders and other political opponents to eliminate internal rivals and secure army backing.
- Führer
- The title Hitler created by merging the offices of Chancellor and President after Hindenburg's death, making him the undisputed supreme leader of Germany.
- Army oath of allegiance
- Sworn on the same day, a personal oath of allegiance directly to Hitler rather than to the German state, cementing his control over the armed forces.
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