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- Took part in the 1923 Munich Putsch; NSDAP veteran
- In 1928, he joined the Sturm Abteilung (SA) and was a devout follower of Hitler
- Himmler believed Hitler was the Messiah, destined to lead Germany to greatness. · Hitler, vulnerable to flattery, decided in January, 1929, that Himmler should become the new leader of his personal bodyguard, the Schutzstaffel (SS).
- The SS had been formed in 1925 but it only began to become important when Himmler took over in 1929
- Under Himmler, the SS became all the SA was not; a loyal, highly disciplined elite
- Himmler’s power was increased when the SS was made responsible for part intelligence and espionage in 1932.
- By 1933 the SS had 52,000 members
- SS were fanatical, not only to Hitler, but to Himmler as well
- All SS members were selectively chosen to be of pure ‘Aryan’ heritage; making Himmler’s position morally impregnable
- Himmler’s devotion to Hitler’s ideals made contradicting Himmler seem like contradicting Hitler.
- Talent for winning people over
- Brozat: “personal connections with Hitler vital” - Himmler had this
- 1933; established Dachau concentration camp; extending the range of victims he could imprison.
- Masterminded the ‘Night of the Long Knives’, removing SA leaders and arch-rival, Ernst Rohm
- As a result, Himmler and the SS became the principle instrument of internal control in Germany
- In February 1936, Himmler was given control over the Prussian Political Police, the Gestapo
- In June 1936, he was made Chief of the German Police
- Military resistance to Himmler’s build-up of the SS was overcome in 1938 with the resignation of Fritsch and Blomberg
- By 1939, Himmler had a growing empire, the most powerful of the new Reich Authorities; 240,000 members; remarkable achievement considering his roots as a mere Nazi foot-soldier
Comments
These notes are aimed at Edexcel A Level history students.
Originally written by dudey_cool on TSR Forums.
