SA

The SA, also referred to as storm troopers or brownshirts by the Dutch, was established as the NSDAP squad of thugs in Germany in 1921. The mission of the squad was to help the party and its leader Adolf Hitler into power through intimidation tactics. Under the aegis of Ernst Röhm the organization became increasingly autonomous. This displeased Hitler, who set up the SS as the new armed forces of the party. During what was called the ’night of the long knives‘ on 30 June 1934, all SA heavyweights were arrested and subsequently executed. The SA remained an auxiliary military force.