Proclamation of the National Socialist Revolution after the overthrow of Hitler in 1934
HammerAI: In this alternate history scenario, Ernst Röhm, the leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA), learns of Hitler's planned purge, codenamed Operation Hummingbird (Unternehmen Kolibri) or Night of the Long Knives, and decides to act preemptively. Here's a possible sequence of events:
Alliances Formed: Röhm reaches out to Otto and Gregor Strasser, who had been purged from the Nazi Party in 1932 but still have influence among the working-class SA members. He also approaches the National Bolshevik wing of the Communist Party (KP), led by figures like Walther Stennes, who share his disdain for capitalism and bourgeoisie elements within the Nazi Party.
SA Mobilization: Röhm orders a full mobilization of the SA. With around 4 million members compared to the 500,000-strong Wehrmacht and 150,000 SS, Röhm believes he has enough manpower to challenge Hitler's authority.
Arrests Begin: On June 28, 1934, Röhm issues orders for key figures in the SS and Gestapo to be arrested or killed. This includes Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, and other high-ranking officers. However, Hitler is tipped off about Röhm's plans by SS informants within the SA (*very likely*).
Hitler Strikes First: Enraged by Röhm's betrayal, Hitler orders a counter-purge. He deploys loyal SS and Gestapo units to arrest or kill Röhm's allies and neutralize any potential resistance from SA units that haven't joined the coup.
The Strassers' Role: The Strasser brothers help rally support among SA divisions in northern Germany. However, they face strong opposition from local Gauleiters who remain loyal to Hitler. Otto Strasser is eventually arrested and executed during Hitler's counter-purge.
National Bolsheviks' Involvement: The National Bolsheviks provide military support to Röhm's forces but face heavy losses against better-armed and trained SS units. Without sufficient military backing from other factions, their involvement proves inconsequential in turning the tide of events.
Röhm's Fate: Despite initial successes in seizing key facilities in Munich and Berlin, Röhm's forces are ultimately overwhelmed by Hitler's loyalists. On July 1st, Röhm is arrested at his home in Bad Wiessee and later executed following a summary trial.
Kurt Daluege, Heinrich Himmler, and Ernst Röhm, in August 1933
Aftermath: With Röhm defeated and killed, Hitler consolidates his power over Germany even further. The SA is drastically reduced in size and influence while the SS emerges as a powerful force within the Nazi regime.
In this alternate timeline, Hitler would likely become an even more ruthless dictator than he was historically due to this attempted coup d'état. The power dynamics within the Nazi Party would shift significantly with the rise of Himmler and Heydrich leading to increased repression and persecution of perceived enemies both within Germany and abroad.
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Further consequences of a Röhm coup attempt in 1934:
In this alternate scenario, the possibility of a Hitler-Stalin pact, such as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in August 1939, is less likely for several reasons:
Soviet Support for Röhm: In our scenario, the Soviet Union supported Röhm's coup attempt through its National Bolshevik allies. This would likely strain relations between Germany and the USSR, making a pact less likely.
British and French Reaction: If Röhm's coup had succeeded or even caused significant instability in Germany, Britain and France might have been more inclined to support the Soviet Union against Germany. This could lead to a stronger collective security agreement among these powers, reducing the incentive for Hitler to seek an alliance with Stalin.
While it's still possible that some form of non-aggression pact or temporary alliance could be reached between Germany and the Soviet Union in this alternate timeline, it would likely be less likely than in our historical timeline. The dynamics of European politics would have shifted significantly due to Röhm's actions, potentially leading to a different set of alliances and conflicts.
In this alternate timeline, Hitler would likely become an even more ruthless dictator than he was historically due to this attempted coup d'état. The power dynamics within the Nazi Party would shift significantly with the rise of Himmler and Heydrich leading to increased repression and persecution of perceived enemies both within Germany and abroad.
///
Further consequences of a Röhm coup attempt in 1934:
In this alternate scenario, the possibility of a Hitler-Stalin pact, such as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in August 1939, is less likely for several reasons:
Soviet Support for Röhm: In our scenario, the Soviet Union supported Röhm's coup attempt through its National Bolshevik allies. This would likely strain relations between Germany and the USSR, making a pact less likely.
British and French Reaction: If Röhm's coup had succeeded or even caused significant instability in Germany, Britain and France might have been more inclined to support the Soviet Union against Germany. This could lead to a stronger collective security agreement among these powers, reducing the incentive for Hitler to seek an alliance with Stalin.
While it's still possible that some form of non-aggression pact or temporary alliance could be reached between Germany and the Soviet Union in this alternate timeline, it would likely be less likely than in our historical timeline. The dynamics of European politics would have shifted significantly due to Röhm's actions, potentially leading to a different set of alliances and conflicts.
