862.00/3311
The Ambassador in Germany ( Dodd ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17.]
Sir: With reference to my telegrams No. 126 of July 2 and No. 128 of July 5, and No. 133 of July 6, I have the honor to report that the events of June 30 occurred with dramatic suddenness. It is true that the political atmosphere had become increasingly tense: the economic problems, the religious controversies, the quarrels between the members of the old Stahlhelm organization and the S.A. and the acrimonious tenor of the constant flood of speeches all contributed to the popular uneasiness (see my despatches No. 962 of June 26 and No. 974 of June 2823). Nevertheless, although rumors were current that interesting events would take place about July 1, these were quite vague and lacking in preciseness.
As the press has published the official statements concerning Hitler’s actions in Bavaria on the morning of June 30, it appears unnecessary to repeat them in detail here. The Chancellor, who was said to be aware that the loyalty of some of the chief officers of the S.A. was not to be trusted received information on the night of June 29 that the situation in Munich had become serious. He left Godesberg on the Rhine at 2 A.M. accompanied by Dr. Goebbels, arriving in Munich two hours later to find that apparently a portion of the S.A. of that city had been aroused by their leaders. He went immediately to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, met two of the alleged culprits, deprived them of their rank and ordered their arrest. He then proceeded by motor to Wiessee where he found and arrested Röhm, the S.A. Chief of Staff, and Heines, Police President and Obergruppen leader of Silesia, the latter a notorious character. Röhm’s bodyguard refused to protect their chief and left for Munich at the command of the Chancellor. On the latter’s return journey to the Bavarian capital he met a number of motor cars bearing S.A. leaders to a conference with Röhm. These were stopped and the guilty persons among their occupants arrested. A conference followed at the Nazi headquarters at which the extent of the mutiny was determined and appropriate measures adopted.
In the meantime swift action was being taken in other parts of Germany. Group leader Karl Ernst, the chief of the Nazi organization in Berlin, was arrested as he was about to leave Bremen on a pleasure cruise. The headquarters of Ernst’s command and Röhm’s house in Berlin were seized and occupied. By the evening of [Page 234] June 30 seven prominent S.A. leaders, including Ernst and Hemes, had been shot, apparently at the Cadet School in Lichterfelde, a suburb of Berlin. It is not clear what form of a trial, if any, was granted to them. Röhm also paid the supreme penalty after he had been offered an opportunity to take his own life. Numerous arrests of other S.A. leaders have been made, at least in Berlin-Brandenburg, which was evidently a center of disaffection. The fact that General Daluege, the Chief of the Prussian State Police, has been empowered to reorganize the S. A. organizations of this area as well as those of Pomerania and Silesia tends to confirm this belief. Gregor Strasser, one of the foremost National Socialists until his expulsion from the party in 1932, is another victim.
As the Department is already aware, the arrests carried out by the Government were not confined to S.A. leaders. They have included personages prominent in Catholic and Conservative circles although what connection they may have had with the plans of Röhm is as yet a mystery. Some of these have suffered a violent death. For instance General von Schleicher, the former Chancellor, is reported by the Government to have been killed while resisting arrest, although this account does not appear to be generally accepted. A similar fate is said to have been meted out to Dr. Clausener, a prominent Catholic leader. Several of Vice Chancellor von Papen’s entourage have either died or are in prison, such as Herr von Bose, who is said to have committed suicide, and Herr Jung, who drafted the famous speech delivered at Marburg and who is in custody. Many families with royalist leanings, especially those connected with the famous “Herrenklub”, have suffered severely. Herr von Alvensleben, the President of the club, has been shot and a lady who owns the building occupied by the institution is reported to be in prison. The son of Herr von Regendanz, a club member, whose father happened to be abroad on June 30, has been arrested and has been confined since June 30 in the notorious Columbia House where “third degree” methods are employed. His father runs the danger of being killed if he should return to Germany. The number of those who have been executed in the neighborhood of Berlin is placed at between 20 and 60. It is doubtful whether an official communiqué giving definite information will be issued. Numerous executions or assassinations in Bavaria have been reported by the Consul General in Munich.
The Chancellor announced on July 3 that the measures taken to suppress the revolt were concluded in the evening of July 1. This, however, cannot mean that the cases of those now in custody, who are rumored to number many hundreds, are as yet disposed of. It seems that none of the Hohenzollern princes has been shot, although it is probable that August Wilhelm, an S.A. group leader, has been under [Page 235] arrest. Vice Chancellor von Papen, who has been detained in his home in Berlin, has now been released. It is not improbable that he will resign. The reasons for von Papen’s embarrassing situation are not far to seek. The antagonism aroused by his speech among wide circles of the Nazi party, the behavior of his subordinates, and the death of Dr. Clausener are all contributory factors. It seems excluded from any reasonable possibility however that the Vice Chancellor himself was directly concerned with the plot headed by Röhm.
It is a noteworthy fact that the suppression of the alleged revolt was carried out by the S.S. and certain special police organizations, such as the secret police and the special police of General Göring, a body which wears a uniform similar to that of the Reichswehr. The latter does not seem to have taken any active part although for a day or two it was held in reserve.
Telegrams of congratulation and loyalty have been pouring in to the Chancellor from provincial leaders of the Nazi party and the S. A. Although undoubtedly many of them are sincere, it may quite properly be assumed that an element of self-interest cannot be absent. The text of a congratulatory message from President Hindenburg to Chancellor Hitler has been made public by the government telegraph bureau.
A successor to Röhm has already been appointed by the Chancellor. The new Chief of Staff of the S. A. is Viktor Lutze, the Oberpräsident of the Prussian Province of Hanover,
In my telegram No. 126 of July 2 I expressed certain views concerning the purpose and significance of the conspiracy. Its effect on the future history of Germany cannot as yet be foretold with any degree of accuracy. Certain considerations, however, stand forth. Röhm and Heines, who have been eliminated, have been properly classified as radicals. Röhm is reported to have favored a comprehensive plan of industrial socialization had he succeeded in seizing control of the government. On the other hand, von Papen, a powerful element for conservatism, may be excluded from the Government. From this aspect the results of the abortive revolt do not seem to have favored either side. When furthermore one considers the persons who have supported Hitler in the emergency the names of Goring, the conservative, and Goebbels, the radical, stand forth prominently, the former through his efficient use of the police organizations, while Goebbels has skilfully controlled the publicity attending the incident. How the Chancellor will use the counsels of these advisers in rebuilding the S. A., and in deciding the future course of his Government, it is impossible at present to determine. It should not be overlooked, however, that such prominent radicals as Darré, Ley, the Chief of the Arbeitsfront, Rosenberg and von Schirach have [Page 236] remained untouched by recent events. To offset these are Dr. Schacht and Schmitt, the Minister of Economics, although the latter’s poor health may compel him to resign.
Another aspect of the situation which must be borne in mind is the probable decline in the strength and influence of the S. A. (See despatch No. 832 of May 1525 for a discussion of the international aspect of this matter). The subordination of important provincial groups to the command of General Daluege of the Prussian police, the suppression of the press bureau of the organization, and the enactment of a decree by the Cabinet providing that the Chief of Staff of the S. A. need no longer be a member of the Federal Government would imply this. The new S. A. Chief of Staff has not been appointed Cabinet Minister to replace Röhm. Such a development would enhance the prestige and importance of the Reichswehr. That the latter organization is at least professedly supporting Hitler is clearly indicated in an article by General Blomberg, the Reichswehr Minister, which appeared on June 29 in the Voelkischer Beobachter (see enclosure No. 4 [6]25). As the army is not believed to favor radical policies its influence may well be an increasing counterweight against Goebbels and therefore a stabilizing factor. Blomberg, however, is said to be unpopular among his subordinates.
The subservient German press naturally has only words of praise for the swift action of the Chancellor. It is interesting, however, to note a distinct sensitiveness to the opinion of foreign countries. Numerous telegrams have been published recounting press comment, mostly, of course, of a favorable nature. On the other hand, pleasure is expressed at the manner in which the hopes harbored by evilly disposed and hostile foreigners for a downfall of the Hitler régime have been deceived. “The entire world has seen that notwithstanding all broadmindedness and generosity Germany is ruled by a hard fist and an iron will” says Rosenberg in the Voelkischer Beobachter. The same newspaper confessed that foreign nations will not understand the trend of developments in Germany. The press on the other side of the frontier, nevertheless, which has indulged in boundless exaggerations, must return gradually to the truth. The sharp tone of the British press, particularly that of the leading editorial published on July 3 by the London Times has called forth vivid rejoinders. The Berliner Tageblatt and the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung retort to the British journal’s description of the suppression of the alleged mutiny as a reversion to medievalism by referring to the Irish disturbances of 1916.
[Page 237]The official statement to the effect that a foreign country was instrumental in furthering the plans of disaffected groups is seized upon by the Frankfurter Zeitung, the Angriff and other journals to hint that France is the guilty party. Further official information on this subject has not appeared. I have ascertained, however, that the French Embassy asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whether the statement in question actually referred to France, and received a denial. Yesterday the Embassy issued a formal denial which was published in the press.
From all outward appearances the aspect of Berlin is quiet and normal. The state of mind of the population is one of doubt, bewilderment and terror. Owing to the skilful propaganda of the Government it is more than probable that no sympathy is wasted on Röhm, although it is stated that the death of Ernst has come as a shock to many. The popularity of Hitler does not seem to have suffered by the realization that he permitted the orgies and extravagance of the prominent S. A. leaders to go unchecked for many months. It is ascribed to his well known loyalty to old friends. On the other hand, the revelations made of the misuse of the funds, collected to a large extent from poor people, cannot but have had a bad effect on public morale. A decree issued by the Cabinet on July 3 forbidding the collection of money from the public until October 31 has doubtless been inspired by this revelation. Then also the suppression by the Government of a clear account of the extent of the alleged conspiracy and of the number of persons executed has given rise to countless rumors fed by uncertainty and the inability to obtain accurate information. The foregoing, added to the severe economic strain, are all but conducive to popular confidence. The order to the S. A. Obergruppe Berlin-Brandenburg forbidding discussion of the methods pursued in suppressing the revolt (see enclosure No. 326) indicates the tenseness of the situation. In Essen several rumor mongers have been imprisoned.
The ease with which the conspiracy was overcome and the absence of violent resistance invite several surmises, either that the movement was stopped before it obtained momentum or that its seriousness has been exaggerated intentionally in order to obtain popular support for the Government. Any accurate estimate cannot of course be reached at this time.
There are transmitted copies in translation of various interesting orders and public statements which have appeared during the last few days,27 to which the Department’s attention is particularly invited.
Respectfully yours,