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Ernst Roehm was a thug. He was a brutish and zealous believer in National Socialism. If anything, he was more radical than Hitler. He believed in the elimination of anyone connected with the old order, businessmen, office holders of any kind. He became the leader of the SA, the Storm Troopers, whose terror tactics had helped make Hitler the leader of Germany.

Ernst Roehm#14

HistoryExtremismNationalismTactics

About this quote

What does it mean?
The description calls Roehm a thug, brutal, zealous nationalist, more radical than Hitler, who wanted to eliminate the old order and led the SA's terror tactics.
In plain terms
He is portrayed as a violent, radical nationalist leader.
What can you take from it?
Beware of extremist leadership that uses terror.

Where it applies

  • political history
  • ideological analysis

Putting it to work

  • study extremist movements

Questions to consider

  • What evidence supports his radicalism?
  • How did his actions affect the SA?

Another view

The language is highly charged and may lack objectivity.

More from Ernst Roehm

  1. I point out to the Fuhrer at length that in 1934 we unfortunately failed to reform the Wehrmacht when we had an opportunity of doing so. What Roehm wanted was,…

    Permalink to quote #13
  2. Rohm deceived himself when he thought when he thought that his closeness to Hitler would allow him to survive while other German homosexual men were being pers…

    Permalink to quote #15
  3. People rose up on the chairs and were embraced, many cried out of joy and emotion. Finally! It was the exclamation of relief that exited from the mouths of all.

    Permalink to quote #12

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