Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

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ldcv1973
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Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#1

Post by ldcv1973 » 06 Jul 2015, 23:55

I always had doubts about the correct date of Himmler's appointment as Reichsführer SS, since various (supposedly) reliable sources and authors indicate three different dates: 6, 7 or 8 January 1929.

Can you help me determine the correct date, based on the best source(s)? Is there any official document with the appointment?

Thank you for your help

LV

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Ian Mc
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#2

Post by Ian Mc » 07 Jul 2015, 15:31

The SS Dienstaltersliste has the date as the 6th, I believe that's the official document.

Ian


Max Williams
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#3

Post by Max Williams » 07 Jul 2015, 15:44

Erhard Heiden resigned as RFSS on 6 January 1929 as a result of an impending scandal involving SS uniform sales. Hitler appointed Himmler as his replacement on 20 January 1929, with an effective date of 6 January 1929 for continuity purposes.

NSDAP internal memo:
The Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel, Party Comrade Erhard Heiden, had already requested me on 1st December 1928 to relieve him from his assignment as the Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel because of family-related and economic reasons.
On 6th January 1929, I have relieved Party Comrade Heiden of his post as the Reichsführer of the SS and want to express to him my gratefulness that he had faithfully and honestly served the movement in the Schutzstaffel, ever since he had founded the first Schutzstaffel unit in München together with some comrades.
I wish to stress that Party Comrade Heiden’s dismissal was undertaken at his own request and that it has no connection whatsoever to the social democratic press’ wrongful accusations. I appoint the former Deputy SS Führer, Party Comrade Heinrich Himmler, as the new Reichsführer-SS.
München, 20th January 1929
Signed Adolf Hitler

Max.

ldcv1973
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#4

Post by ldcv1973 » 07 Jul 2015, 22:41

Thank you for your help. There's some authors who say other dates, but my suspicion has always been the 6th

Last book I read (Night of the Long Knives by Paul Maracin) said the 8th, but since it is a portuguese edition, can be a mistake of the translator or reviewer.

Just out of curiosity, can anyone confirm that the english version also has the 8th January? If it has, it's strange that someone with sufficient relevance to write a book that a publisher approves, make such mistake when official documents are available.

Erich2019
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#5

Post by Erich2019 » 02 Dec 2019, 05:02

According to Hitler’s memo, it sounds like Heiden left the SS on good standing! I just read elsewhere that he was executed on orders from Himmler on March 19th 1933 and his body was discovered in September 1933, is this true? Also, has anyone discovered his SS number? I’m guessing it’s under 50? His NSDAP number is 74.

Erich

Erich2019
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#6

Post by Erich2019 » 05 Dec 2019, 19:05

Anything on my question above please?

lartiste
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#7

Post by lartiste » 05 Dec 2019, 22:26

Erich2019 wrote:
02 Dec 2019, 05:02
According to Hitler’s memo, it sounds like Heiden left the SS on good standing! I just read elsewhere that he was executed on orders from Himmler on March 19th 1933 and his body was discovered in September 1933, is this true? Also, has anyone discovered his SS number? I’m guessing it’s under 50? His NSDAP number is 74.

Erich
Max Williams - SS Elite, page 450:

“According to post-war testimony of former SS-Sturmbannführer Josef Gerum, Heiden was arrested in April 1933 in the Orlando Coffee House in Munich, on the orders of Himmler and Heydrich; he was then murdered at some unknown place at an unknown time. His body lay undiscovered until September 1933, when it was buried on the 15th of that month in Munich. His grave no longer exists.”

Erich2019
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Re: Himmler appointment as Reichsführer SS

#8

Post by Erich2019 » 06 Dec 2019, 03:37

Thank you Lartiste,

Max is a good source and Gerum being a former Stoßstrupp Hitler and later with the Gestapo sounds reliable as well. I’m just wondering why Himmler would execute another former RFSS unless he did something to Himmler when the later was his deputy?

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