The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Government & Party
Ernst Röhm (1887–1934): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 28 November 1887, Munich |
|---|---|
| Died | 1 July 1934, Munich-Stadelheim (murdered) |
| Key offices | Leader of the SA (from January 1931); Reich Minister without Portfolio and Bavarian State Minister (1933) |
| Documents bearing his name | SA documents and correspondence, early party papers, personal autographs |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
Ernst Röhm led the SA, the Nazi Party’s mass paramilitary force, until Hitler had him murdered in the summer of 1934. His death gives every Röhm document a firm latest possible date, and his relatively short period of power makes genuine signed material scarce.
Who Was Ernst Röhm?
Röhm was born in Munich in 1887 and served as an officer in the First World War. He took part in the 1923 putsch with his own paramilitary group and was dismissed from the Reichswehr. In 1928 he worked as a military instructor in Bolivia. In January 1931 he returned to lead the SA at Hitler’s invitation, and in 1933 he became Reich Minister without Portfolio and Bavarian State Minister.
What Documents Bear Röhm’s Signature?
Signatures appear on SA documents and correspondence, early party papers and personal items. Because he was killed on 1 July 1934, no document signed by Röhm can be dated later. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Nothing signed by Röhm can postdate 1 July 1934.
- Check SA letterheads and ranks against the period.
- Cut signatures need careful comparison with authenticated exemplars, since they lose the context of the document.
The 1934 Purge
Röhm’s ambitions for the SA brought him into conflict with the army and with Hitler. In the purge of 30 June to 2 July 1934, known as the “Night of the Long Knives”, he was arrested and murdered by SS men at Stadelheim prison on 1 July 1934. Viktor Lutze succeeded him at the head of the SA.
Collector’s Note
Cut signatures of Röhm turn up regularly. Without the document around them, I rely entirely on the handwriting and the materials, so I compare them only with fully authenticated, dated exemplars.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ernst Röhm killed?
On 1 July 1934, at Stadelheim prison in Munich.
Who succeeded Röhm at the head of the SA?
Viktor Lutze.
Are Röhm documents rare?
Genuine signed documents are scarce compared with those of leaders who held office for longer.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Ernst Röhm 1887–1934 (G. Eikenberg; last updated 2014).
- ‘Röhm, Ernst’, Deutsche Biographie.