Hitler's Stormtroopers: The SA, The Nazis' Brownshirts, 1922–1945

by Jean-Denis Lepage

The Sturm Abteilung der NSDAP (SA, assault battalion of the Nazi party) created in August 1920 were squads of strong arms intended to protect the Nazis meetings, to provoke disturbance, to break up other parties meetings, and to attack and assault political opponents as part of a deliberate campaign of intimidation. After 1925 the name Braunhemden (Brownshirts) was also given to its members because of the colour of their uniforms. Under the leadership of Hitlers close political associate, Ernst Rhm, the SA grew to become a huge and radical paramilitary force. This book answers several questions concerning the SA. How did the SA become a national movement? What was the relationship between Rhm and Hitler? What role did the SA play in providing Hitler with the keys to power? After the seizure of power by the Nazis on January 30, 1933, what was the function of the Brownshirts? Why did the brutal and scandalous Ernst Rhm stand in Hitlers way? What became of the SA after the bloody purge of June 1934, the notorious Night of the Long Knives?

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2017

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a disappointment,books on the SA are quite rare compared to their bastard offspring the SS and I was looking forward to this but alas it doesn't contain much I haven't read before.It is however a quite an easy read and I was never bored I just wish the author could've produced some new nuggets of information about the organisation.I give it 3 stars as the Goodreads star system doesn't really cater for an average vote.