Third Reich Day by Day: October 1934

The tensions between the SA leadership and Hitler exploded in 1934. Ernst Röhm, believing that the Nazi revolution should be taken a step further, began to talk of the SA replacing the army. Hitler, however, now firmly in power, did not want to alienate the army or the conservative élites that were backing him. Egged on by other senior Nazis, the Führer decided to eradicate the SA threat. The result was the Night of the Long Knives, during which the senior leadership of the SA, including Röhm, was killed.

24 October

Germany, Legal

Hitler at Hindenburg’s Memorial Chamber at Tannenberg in late 1934. Hitler now had absolute power.
Hitler at Hindenburg’s Memorial Chamber at Tannenberg in late 1934. Hitler now had absolute power.

Hitler issues a decree establishing the scope and aims of the DAF, “The German Labour Front is the organization of all German professional and manual workers. It includes, in particular, the members of the former labour unions, of the unions of employees, and of the former associations of employers, which are united in the Labour Front on a footing of complete equality. The aim of the Labour Front is the formation of a real national community of all Germans. The Labour Front has the duty of adjusting the legitimate interest of all parties in a manner conforming with National Socialist principles. Attached to the Labour Front is the organization ‘Strength through Joy’. The Labour Front has the further duty of looking after the professional education of its adherents.” Thus Dr Ley is given responsibility for the social, educational and political well-being of the entire German working population. Membership in the DAF is of two kinds, individual and corporate. Hitler charges Reichsleiter Dr Robert Ley, leader of the DAF and all affiliated labour organizations, with leading the German labour effort. The term Reichsleiter is the official designation for Hitler’s position as leaders of the Third Reich. However, it is also applied to departmental heads, and is highly regarded by senior Nazis.