Rohm was not planning a coup. Maybe Hitler didn't even think so. I think the SA was eliminated because they were too large and hard to control.

Some argue he was, some argue he wasnt.

From what he said at times it is known that he would like to have had Hitler removed. Some say that the whole coup think was made up by Goebbels while others point to Rohm saying things like Hitler being a reactionary to suggest that Rohm had plans to remove him. Its tough to tell.

I am trying to compile a Master List of the Blood Purge Victims. I have listed everyone that I can find, from a multitude of sources, yet I am sure this is far from complete. Please help! I have tried to give the vital information for each name, but several of these fellows are just shadows (e.g. von der Decken) and any help in fleshing out their resumes would be welcome. Thanx! This list was updated on 29 November 2005 and reflects posts up to then!

Those Killed in Blood Purge:

Adler, Dr. Julius, Marxist, alleged participation in “Röhm Plot,” imprisoned and executed at Dachau.
von Aretin, Freiherr, no other details.
Ballerstadt, Dr. Otto, Critic of Hitler since 1923.
Bechtold,?, SA Führer (Stuttgart)
Beck, Fritz, NSDAP, director of the Munich Student’s Welfare Fund, head of the German Academic Foreign Bureau.
Belding, Karl, SA Standartenführer
Bergmann, Erwald Kuppel, Born 5 February 1905, K.P.D., executed in Landeshut 1 July 1934.
von Beulwitz, Veit Ulrich, SA Sturmführer. Executed in Lichterfelde 1 July 1934
Bittman, Alois, SA Scharführer
Blasner, Franz, SA Truppführer
Bollwitz, ?, head of the SA press department.
von Bose, Herbert, von Papen's Secretary. Reported as gunned down at his desk in the Vice-Chancellery, 30 June 1934, however his brother reported him alive in a concentration camp on 8 August.
von Bredow, Ferdinand, Retired Major General in Reichswehr, head of military intelligence during chancellorship of Heinrich Brüning, associate of von Schleicher. Arrested 30 June 1934, arrived at Lichterfelde with bullet hole in his head, 2 July, or bludgeoned to death in a police van and thrown into a ditch.
Charig, A., Executed in Hirschberg 1 July 1934.
von der Decken,?, no other details
von Detten, Georg, SA Gruppenführer, SA political chief, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Executed at 2:30 AM, 2 July 1934 at Berlin-Lichterfelde.
Ender-Schulen, ?, SA Sturmbannführer, no other details
Engelhardt, Kurt, Born 1 May 1891, SA Sturmbannführer. Executed in Breslau 30 June 1934.
Engels (Engel?),?, Berlin SA leader. (The same as below?)
Engels (Engel?), Werner, SA Sturmbannführer, acting Police President of Breslau. Driven out to the woods by SS troopers and killed with a shot-gun.
Enkel,(Engel? Engels?), ; SA – Standartenführer. (The same as above?)
Ernst, Frau, wife of Karl Ernst, suspected of knowing the truth about the Reichstag fire.
Ernst, Karl, Born 1904, Freikorps Roßbach, ex-hotel doorman, homosexual protegé of Paul Röhrbein + Ernst Röhm, SA Gruppenführer, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Arrested on the dock at Bremen (where he was preparing to leave for Maderia on honeymoon) 30 June 1934. Flown to Berlin where he was shot by Leibstandarte-SS firing squad at Lichterfelde. Last words: “Heil Hitler!”
Ewald, Ernst Martin, Born 19 January 1900, Leiter der ND Gau Sachsen. Executed in Dresden 1 July 1934.
von Falkenhausen, Hans Joachim, Born 15 October 1897 in Brieg, SA Oberführer. Executed at 2AM, 2 July 1934 at Berlin-Lichterfelde.
von Fichte, Werner, Freikorps Ehrhardt, NSDAP / SA / SS, police president of Erfurt, Killed in Blood Purge. (Possibly spurious, not on official list.)
Fiedler,?, S.A. Probably knew too much about the Reichstag fire.
Fink, Gustav, SS Mann
Fischer, ?, captain in the Berlin Gestapo.
Fleck,?, no other details.
Frasenhauser,?, no other details.
Förster, Dr. Walter, A Hirschberg lawyer who had taken part in legal proceedings against National Socialists. Executed in Hirschberg 1 July 1934.
Gans, Erich, Marxist, alleged participation in “Röhm Plot,” imprisoned and executed at Dachau.
Gehrt, Daniel Richthofen Squadron, Pour le Merite, SA – Sturmbannführer. (The same as “Gerth” below?)
Gerlich, Fritz, 1883-1934, anti-Nazi Catholic journalist, publisher of Der Gerade Weg (“The Straight Way/Path”), arrested 9 March 1933, killed at Dachau 1 July 1934.
Gerth, Daniel, SA Obersturmführer, adjutant to Röhm. Arrested in Berlin, reprieved at the last moment by Hitler who, because Gerth held the Pour le Merite, offered him the opportunity to commit suicide instead. Gerth, protesting his innocence, refused the offer and was taken back to Lichterfelde on 1 July 1934 and shot. His last words were reported to be: “Comrades, aim well!”
Glaser, Dr. Alexander, Born 1 July 1884. Attorney, chief of Staff to P-Zero head, Gregor Strasser. Executed in Munich 30 June 1934
Guttenberg, Freiherr von, no other details.
Haber, Dr,? no other details.
Haebich, Walter, Marxist, alleged participation in “Röhm Plot,” imprisoned and executed at Dachau.
Hausdame, Ernestine Zoref, Born 23 May 1896. Executed in Dachau 30 June 1934.
Hayn, Hans, Born 7 August 1896 in Liegnitz, Baltic freikorpskämpfer, Black Reichswehr, Fehmemord, SA Gruppenführer, NSDAP Reichstag deputy, homosexual associate of Röhm. Shot by SS firing squad in Stadelheim Prison, 30 June 1934.
Hayn, Wilhelm, Reichswehr officer, Baltic Freikorpskämpfer. Shot by SS firing squad in Stadelheim Prison, 30 June 1934.
Heck,?, SA – Standartenführer ?
Heim, Klaus, leader of the Holstein farmers.
Heimsoth, Dr. Karl-Günther, SA Gruppenführer. A freind of Röhm, he had recieved the notorious homoerotic letters from Bolivia that were later leaked to the press.
Heines, Edmund, Born 1897, WW1 Officer, Freikorps Roßbach, Fehmemord, protegé of Gerhard Roßbach + Ernst Röhm, expelled from the SA in 1927 for notorious homosexuality, reïnstated by Röhm as SA Obergruppenführer in charge of Silesia 1931, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Shot while in bed with his chauffeur and Lustknabe at Bad Wiesse, 30 June 1934.
Heines, Oskar, Brother of Edmund, born 3 February 1903, SA Sturmbannführer. Hearing of the attempted “Putsch” he turned himself in to Gestapo headquarters in Breslau, 30 June 1934. Executed immediately.
Heiser, Robert, Born 28 November 1904, Reh Ju. K.P.D,. Executed in Landeshut 1 July 1934.
Held, Dr., no other details.
Hereth, Adam, Marxist, alleged participation in “Röhm Plot,” imprisoned and executed at Dachau.
von Heydebreck, Hans Peter, Born 1 July 1889 in Koslin/Pommern, freikorpskämpfer (the “Hero of Annaberg”), SA Gruppenführer, NSDAP Reichstag deputy, homosexual associate of Röhm. Shot by SS firing squad in Stadelheim Prison, 30 June 1934.
Hinzen,?, no other details.
Hoffmann, Dr. Joachim, SA – Brigadeführer. [In many cases, the victims were cremated and their ashes filed by number in cigar-boxes or crude urns and delivered to the widows or parents by mail, or at special offices where they could be called for with numbered checks. Hoffmann’s ashes bore number 238.]
Hohberg unt Buchwald, Anton Freiherr von, SS Reiter Und OberTruppführerührer. Shot in the smoking room of his estate by SS troopers on order of his rival SS Oberabschnitt Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski.
Holt, August, waiter at the “Nürnberger Bratwurstglöckl” restaurant where Röhm and Goebbels had held secret meetings just before the purge.
Huber,?, no other details.
Jacobson,?, no other details.
Jung, Edgar Julius, Born 1894, DVP, Herrenklub, Journalist, Speech writer for von Papen. Shot in the Lichterfelde Barracks ? 30 June 1934.
Jurk,?, no other details. (The same as “Gerth” above?)
Kahr, Gustav Ritter von, Born 1862, Staatskommissar for Bavaria at the time of the Beer Hall Putsch. Abducted in Munich 30 June 1934, hacked to death with axes and thrown into a swamp near Dachau.
Kaindl,?, no other details.
Kamphausen, ?, Waldenberg Municipal Engineer. Murdered for being un-cooperative about building licenses. Killed in SS Abschnitt VI.
Keppler,?, no other details.
von Kessel, Eugen, Hauptman Polizei, head of section to Dr. Erich Klausener, head of Preusischen Ministerie Polizei.
Kirschbaum,?, no other details.
Klausener, Dr. Erich, Head of Preusischen Ministerie Polizei, centre Party, Catholic Action. Shot by SS Hauptsturmführer Kurt Gildisch in his office 30 June 1934. Left to bleed to death, he managed to telephone for a priest, but the SS men wouldn’t allow the priest to enter and give Klaussener the Last Rites of the Church.
Klemm, Willi, Born 9 March 1892 in Aaken, A-Brigadeführer in Berlin. Executed 1 July 1934 by SS firing squad in Berlin-Lichterfelde.
Koeppel, Ewald, no other details.
Koch, Hans Karl, Born 17 October 1897 in Potsdam, SA Brigadeführer. Executed 1 July 1934 by SS firing squad in Berlin-Lichterfelde.
Konig, Heinrich, SA Oberscharführer
Konze, ?, Berlin SA leader.
Kopp,?, SA – Brigadeführer ?
Koppel, Ewald, communist, executed at Landeshut in Silesia 1 Juoly 1934.
Krause, ?, SA Sturmbannführer ? Executed in Lichterfelde 1 July 1934
Kraußer, Fritz Ritter von, Born 29 April 1888 in Nürnberg, cavalry officer, Freikorps Epp, SA Obergruppenführer, protege of Röhm, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Shot in Stadelheim Prison, 30 June 1934. OR Executed at 3AM, 2 July 1934 at Berlin-Lichterfelde.
Kunze,?, no other details.
Laemmermann, Friedrich Karl, Born 20 March 1914, HJ Führer. Executed in Plauen 1 July 1934.
Langer, Gotthard, Born 1 December 1914, SA OberTruppführerührer. Executed in Leopschutz 1 July 1934.
Lindemann, Dr. ?, Executed in Glogau 1 July 1934.
Lipinsky, Karl, Born 29 May 1896, SA Reiter-Sturmführer. Executed in Breslau 30 June 1934.
“Max,(?),” Röhm’s chauffeur and Lustknabe. Arrested at Bad Wiesse, 30 June 1934, and taken to Stadelheim Prison. On 1 July 1943, Hitler ordered that he be shot and then that Röhm be informed of this.
Marcus, ?, SA – Standartenführer ?
von Marlow,?, Reichwehr colonel, no other details.
Martin,?, no other details.
Mathis,?, no other details.
Mattheis, Dr. Hermann, Born 18 July 1893, SA Standartenführer Executed in Ellwangen 1 July 1934
May,?, no other details.
Merker,?, no other details.
von Mohrenschildt, Walter, Born 6 June 1910, SA-Hauptsturmführer ?, adjutant to Röhm. Executed in Lichterfelde 1 July 1934
Morsbach, Dr. ?, no other details.
Muehsam, Erich, no other details.
Muhler (Muhlert?), Pfaffer, no other details.
Neumeier, Edmund, Born 8 August 1908, SA Rottenführer. Executed in Dachau 1 July 1934.
Nixdorf, Heinrich, Born 19 October 1890, SA Oberst Feldjagerei. Executed in Breslau 30 June 1934.
Oberweuzer,?, no other details.
Oberfohren, Dr. Ernst, Nationalist Reichstag Deputy. (Possibly spurious, not on official list.)
Opperheim, Ose, son of Salomon Opperheim.
Opperheim, Salomon, no other details.
von Ossow, Otto, retired Reichswehr general.
Ostendorp, Lambeardus, Born 20 May 1893, SA Oberst Feldjagerei. Executed in Dresden 1 July 1934.
von Pasinsky,?, no other details.
Pietrzok, Otto, Born 13 December 1908, SA Sturmbannführer. Executed in Dresden 1 July 1934.
Pleines, Fritz, Born 8 July 1906, SS Mann. Executed in Stettin 30 June 1934.
Probst, Adalbert, Catholic youth leader in Munich, former Bavarian Landtag deputy.
Ramshorn, Hans, SA Brigadeführer, Police president of Gleiwitz
Reblitzki,?, no other details.
Redwitz, Barm no other details.
Reh, Robert, communist, executed at Landeshut in Silesia, 1 July 1934.
Reiner, Rolf, SS Gruppenführer
Reiner, Rudolf, (Same as above?) Röhm’s adjutant.
Röhm, Ernst, Born in Munich on 28th November 1887. WW1 Captain, Ex-Reichswehr, Freikorps Epp, Frontbahn, “Du friends” with Hitler, Stabschef SA, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Arrested at Bad Wiesse, 30 June 1934, taken to cell 474 in the new cell block of Stadelheim Prison, München. After declining the option to commit suicide with a revolver, he was shot on 2 July by SS-Brigadeführer Theodor Eicke and/or SS-Sturmbannführer Michael Lippert on orders of Sepp Deitrich.
Röhrbein, Paul, Frontbahn, SA Brigadeführer in charge of Berlin (1925-1927), homosexual associate of Röhm + Ernst.
von Roskotten,?, no other details.
Sander, Wilhelm, Born 14 June 1895, SA Stabsführer, aide to Röhm. When the arrests began in Berlin, Sander concluded that Göring had become demented and he flew to Munich to alert Hitler. Arrested in Munich, he was taken back to Berlin and executed in Lichterfeld 1 July 1934
Saasbach, Emil, no other details.
Sanders, ?, SA – Brigadeführer ?
Schätzl, Martin, (b. 1909) Munich painter, SA Standartenführer, he had accompanied Röhm on his two year stay in Bolivia.
Graf Scherr-Thott,?, no other details.
Scheringer, Richard, “Ulm Garrison Incident,”Aufbruch Circle, SA man turned communist.
Scherl, Gaiseric, Born in Plauen 12 September 1912, SA Standartenführer, homosexual associate of Röhm, NS Studentenbund, Harvest Commando. Executed along with his wife at Landeshut 1 July 1934.
Schieweck, Erich, Born Breslau, SA Obertruppführer. Killed Dachau 1 July 1934.
von Schleicher, Elisabeth, Born 18 November 1893. Shot dead along with her husband, General von Schleicher, at their house at Neu-Babelsberg, 30 June 1934.
von Schleicher, Kurt, Born 1882, WW1 Staff Officer, Reichswehr, Chancellor of Germany (1932-33). Shot dead in his house at Neu-Babelsberg (just outside Berlin) by six SS troopers, 30 June 1934, along with his wife.
Schmidt, Dr. Wilhelm, Music Critic. Mistaken For Gruppenführer Schmidt, arrested 30 June 1934 by the SS and killed while in custody. Hess later apologized for the mistake. This is the only documented case of such a mistake, though François-Poncet assures us that there were many.
Schmidt, Hans W., Born 19 April 1912, SA Obersturmführer. Executed at Frankfurt- Berlin ? 2 July 1934.
Schmidt, Theodor, Born Kolmar 23 May 1907, SA. Executed in Dachau 30 June 1934.
Schmidt, Walter, (Breslau) no other details.
Schmidt, Wilhelm, Born 30 June 1889, SA Truppführerührer. Executed in Stadelhelm 1 July 1934.
Schmidt, Willi, SA Gruppenführer [The same as above?]. Arrested in Munich, 30 June 1934, by Emil Maurice who shot him later that day.
Schmidt, ?, SA Standartenführer, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. (One of the above?)
Schneidhüber, August, Born 8 May 1887 in Traunstein, SA Obergruppenführer, Munich Police Superintendent, NSDAP Reichstag deputy. Arrested in Munich, 30 June 1934, by Emil Maurice, shot at Stadelheim shortly thereafter. Last words reported to be: “Well, boys, I don’t know what this is all about, but anyhow, shoot straight!”
Schotte, Walter, anti-Nazi journalist.
Schragmüller, Konrad, SA Gruppenführer, NSDAP Reichstag deputy, Chief of Magdeburg Police. Arrested and killed 30 June 1934.
Schroder, Dr. Joachim, SA Obersturmführer Born 2 April, 1897 Executed in Dresden 1 July 1934.
Schuldt, Max Walter Otto, Born 3 May 1903, SA Sturmführer. Executed in Dresden 1 July 1934.
Schulz, Walter, Born 2 September 1897, 2 Stabschef der SA Gruppe Pommern. Executed on 1 July 1934.
Schulze, Max, Born 21 October 1900, SA Obersturmführer. Executed on 1 July 1934.
Schwarz, ?, SA – Brigadeführer ?
Schweighardt, Hans, Born 12 July 1894, SA Standartenführer. Executed in Dachau 1 July 1934.
Sembach, Emil, Born 2 April 1891, SS Oberführer. Attached to SS headquarters in Silesia, he was expelled for embezzlement in February 1934 and had denounced Kurt Wittje's homosexuality to the Minister of Defence and to the Reichswehr. He then asked Frick for protection. Udo von Woyrsch, who had a personal vendetta against Sembach, discussed the case with Himmler in June and Sembach was arrested the afternoon of 30 June 1934 in Brieg (HQ of SS Oa Sudost) and taken to Oels. On 1 July Sembach was taken into the mountains and shot by a Commando under SS Hauptsturmführer Paul Exner on Woyrsch' orders OR , drown in a reservoir near Brieg.
Sempner, ?, Proprietor of an inn favored by Röhm.
Spreti – Weilbach, Hans graf von, SA – Standartenführer, SA-Führer zur besonderen Verwendung, protegé of Röhm. Arrested at Bad Wiesse, 30 June 1934, taken to Stadelheim Prison and shot.
Stable, Oskar, Freikorps Maercker, Freikorps Roßbach, NSDAP / NSDStB. (Possibly spurious, not on official list.)
Stadler, Eduard, no other details.
Stefan,?, no other details.
Stein, Leo, no other details.
Stempfle, Father Bernhard, Catholic priest, former associate of Hitler, found in a forest near Harlaching, an affluent suburb of Munich, with a broken neck and three bullets in his heart. Probably killed because of what he knew about Geli Raubal.
Steutzel, Karl Bavarian Minister of the Interior at the time of the Putsch.
Strasser, Gregor, Born at Geisenfeld on 31 May 1892, WW1 officer, freikorpskämpfer, Ex-GDVG, Ex-NSFP, NW Arbeitsgemeinschaft, NSBO, Gauleiter of Niederbayern-Oberpfalz (1925-1929), Reichsorganisationsleiter (1929-1932). Arrested in his Berlin home 30 June 1934, taken to Prinz Albrechtstrasse Gestapo jail and shot in cell #16. Died of his wounds 2 July 1934. His death was officially announced as a “suicide.”
Stucken, Otto, Born 18 December 1896, SA Obersturmführer. Executed in Breslau 30 June 1934.
Surk, ?, SA – Standartenführer ?
Thomas, ?, SA – Standartenführer ?
Toifl, Ottmar, Born 16 July 1898, SS Truppführer u Polizei kommissar. Friend of Daluege. Killed on Heydrich orders in Berlin 1 July 1934. His body was left in an allee of Grunewald.
Trambauer,?, Flagbearer 1923.
Uhl, Julius, SA Standartenführer, assassin of Gerog Bell. Arrested at Bad Wiesse, 30 June 1934, taken to Stadelheim Prison and shot.
Un-named wine steward at the “Nürnberger Bratwurstglöckl” restaurant where Röhm and Goebbels had held secret meetings just before the purge.
Un-named waiter and barman at Zehnter's.
Villain, Dr. Erwin, Born 3 November 1898, SA Standartenarzt, SA medical officer. Arrested by SS Hauptsturmführer Kurt Gildisch, executed in Lichterfelde 1 July 1934. Possibly he knew too much about the Reichstag fire.
Vogel, Max, Born 18 July 1908, SA Obersturmführer. Executed in Dachau 1 July 1934.
Voss, Gerd, Attorney to Strasser, shot dead during a search of his office.
Wagner, Eich, no other details.
Weber,?, no other details.
von Wechmar, Karl Eberhard, SA Gruppenführer.
Weiersch,?, no other details.
Winkler,?, no other details.
Wopfner,?, no other details.
Prinz Ysenburg,?, no other details.
Zehnter, Karl, (b. 1900) Proprietor of the “Nürnberger Bratwurstglöckl” restaurant, homosexual associate of Röhm and Heines.
Zweig, Jeanette, Executed in Hirschberg 1 July 1934.
Zweig, Alex, Executed in Hirschberg 1 July 1934. [/b]

According the Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Hitler was forced to purge the SA in order to secure the presidency and garner support from the army. The SA was seen as a threat to the predominance of the army so as part of Hitler's deal with the state, he was forced to cut his old friend Roehm down to size.

Many of the people died saying Heil Hitler, and were completely comnfused as to who had betrayed them and why. Roehm was not planning a coup, Hitler was simply forced into action. He also took this opportunity to kill off the 'socialists' in the national socialist movement.

Yeah, the SA was young and, for Hitler, uncontrollable. I know of an excellent picture of Hitler surrounded by SA, but I'm afraid to Google search it. Who knows what I'll find.



Good luck with that.

Unfortunately the purge list is well beyond my area of expertise, nor can I think to anyone that could help you.

I would be interested in what sources you used to get this far however.

Yeah, that's more or less what happened.
I don't know about numbers, but the post '34 SA was pretty much nothing more than a Boy Scouts for men. Nothing like they were before the NLK.


Also because it was the only way they knew how to "protest".
They once sacked Nazi Party headquarters when they had a beef with the Party leadership.


That would be the "Revolutionary Union of National Socialists" nicknamed "the Black Front" led by Otto Strasser.

The Strasser brothers did, indeed, take the word "socialist" in "National Socialist" seriously (they were basically racist socialists) whereas Hitler differentiated between "National Socialism" and "classical socialism". They were also the party leaders in "Red Berlin".

Gregor repented, but it didn't save him from the NLK. Otto refused and either quit or was kicked out of the party, since then he had founded that "Black Front" and once Hitler came to power, fled to Canada but returned to West Germany after WWII.

The "Night of the Long Knives" pretty much came about as a combination of three things:

1) The Army being jealous of the SA and it's ambitions to replace it. Hitler was in no mood to replace the Army and therefore the SA was always going to lose that battle politically.

2) Goering and Himmler scheming to rid themselves of a potential rival. IIRC Goering traded the control of the Gestapo to Himmler in return for his support.

3) Roehms idiocy in that he made comments like "it was now time for a second revolution" and the like. Whether he meant it or not it was only putting a noose around his neck.

Victor Lutze was a conniving man who reported on Roehm so he could get the top job and then found out his treachery had de-fanged the tiger he hoped to lead.

Homosexuality was not the issue for Hitler, who seemed to like surrounding himself with deviants that he had some blackmail over, but Himmler took it pretty seriously.