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Politics & World • Nazi Germany

Ernst Röhm

Ernst Röhm was a German military officer and a leading early member of the Nazi Party.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ernst Röhm was a German military officer and a leading early member of the Nazi Party. He co-founded and led the SA (Sturmabteilung), the Nazi Party’s original paramilitary wing. He was murdered on Adolf Hitler’s orders during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934.

Early life and military career

Ernst Röhm was born in Munich, German Empire, on 28 November 1887. He served as a German military officer before becoming involved in right-wing politics. He joined the Nazi movement early and became one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates.

Role in the SA

Röhm was a co-founder and later leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the Nazi Party’s paramilitary wing. He served as chief of staff from 1931 to 1934. The SA helped protect Nazi meetings, attack opponents, and expand the party’s street power.

Conflict with Hitler and death

By 1934, Röhm’s influence and the power of the SA had become a threat to Hitler’s control. Hitler ordered his arrest and murder during the Night of the Long Knives, a purge that also targeted other perceived enemies of the regime.

Historical significance

Röhm is remembered as a major figure in the Nazi rise to power and as one of the best-known victims of internal Nazi violence. His killing marked a decisive step in the consolidation of Hitler’s dictatorship.

Key facts

  • Röhm was an early ally and close friend of Adolf Hitler.
  • He co-founded and led the SA, the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization.
  • He served as chief of staff of the SA from 1931 to 1934.
  • He was murdered on Hitler’s orders during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934.
  • The purge against Röhm also eliminated other political threats within and around the Nazi movement.
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Canadian context

Ernst Röhm is relevant to Canadian readers as a key figure in the rise of Nazi Germany and the internal purge that helped cement Hitler’s dictatorship, an important topic in Holocaust and Second World War history taught and studied in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ernst Röhm?
Ernst Röhm was a German military officer and Nazi politician who helped found and lead the SA, the Nazi Party’s paramilitary wing.
What was the SA?
The SA, or Sturmabteilung, was the Nazi Party’s original paramilitary force, used to intimidate opponents and support Nazi street politics.
Why was Ernst Röhm killed?
Hitler ordered Röhm’s murder in 1934 because Röhm and the SA were seen as political threats to Nazi control.
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
It was a Nazi purge in late June and early July 1934 in which Röhm and other perceived enemies were killed.
Was Ernst Röhm a close ally of Hitler?
Yes. He was one of Hitler’s early allies and among his closest associates before their relationship broke down.
Did Röhm hold government office?
Yes. He served as a Reich minister without portfolio in Hitler’s cabinet in 1933–1934.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm
    Supports: Birth and death dates, basic biography, Nazi Party role, SA leadership
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernst-Rohm
    Supports: Biographical details, role in the SA, death on Hitler’s order
  3. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/roehm-purge
    Supports: Night of the Long Knives context and purge of SA leadership
  4. German History in Documents and Images — https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=2330
    Supports: Röhm as SA chief of staff, his relationship with Hitler, and his killing in 1934