Erhard Heiden

Erhard Heiden (23 February 1901 – 1933) was an early member of the Nazi Party and the third commander of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the paramilitary wing of the Sturmabteilung ("Storm Detachment; SA").

Heiden was born on 23 February 1901 in Weiler-Simmerberg, a city in Bavaria.

In 1917, he attended the NCO school in Fürstenfeldbruck.

Little is known about his early life.

Following Germany's defeat in World War I, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, poverty, crime and civil unrest plagued the country.

During that time, Heiden served in a Freikorps unit.

Also in 1919, a small right-wing political party known as the German Workers' Party (DAP) was created and seated in Munich.

At party meetings in late 1919 and early 1920, hecklers and protesters tried to disrupt Adolf Hitler's speeches and fought with party members.

It was decided that a permanent group of party members would serve to protect Nazi officials at rallies and disrupt the meetings of opposing parties.

The basis for the Sturmabteilung ("Storm Detachment"; SA) had been formed.

Heiden became an early member of the Nazi Party and the SA.

In 1920, it changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party; NSDAP).

It rejected the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and advocated antisemitism and anti-Bolshevism.

In 1923, Heiden joined a small personal bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler named Stoßtrupp-Hitler ("Shock Troop–Hitler").

That same year, Hitler felt strong enough to try to seize power in Munich.

Inspired by Benito Mussolini's "March on Rome" the previous year, the Nazis aimed to first establish power in Munich and then challenge the government in Berlin.

On 9 November 1923, the Stoßtrupp, along with the SA and several other paramilitary units, took part in the abortive coup d'état, resulting in the death of sixteen Nazi supporters and four police officers, an event known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

After the putsch, Hitler and other Nazi leaders were incarcerated at Landsberg Prison for high treason.

The Nazi Party and all associated formations, including the Stoßtrupp, were officially disbanded.

After Hitler's release from prison in December 1924, the Nazi Party was officially refounded.

In 1925, Hitler ordered the formation of a new bodyguard unit, the Schutzkommando ("Protection Command; SS").

It was formed by Julius Schreck and included old Stoßtrupp members such as Emil Maurice and Heiden.

That same year, the Schutzkommando was expanded and renamed the Sturmstaffel ("Storm Squadron"), and finally the Schutzstaffel ("Protection Squadron"; SS).

Heiden, described by William Shirer as "a former police stool-pigeon of unsavory reputation", joined the SS in 1925 and was an early advocate of separating the unit from the SA, its parent organization.

He was appointed head of the SS, an elite subsection of the SA in 1927.

At that time the SS numbered fewer than a thousand men and Heiden found it difficult to cope under the much larger SA.

Heiden was not a success in the post, and SS membership dropped significantly under his leadership.

On 1 March 1927, Joseph Berchtold transferred leadership of the SS to Heiden, who was his acting deputy.

Berchtold had become disillusioned by the SA's authority over the SS. As head of the SS, Heiden also found it difficult to function under the larger and more powerful SA.

Under Heiden's leadership a stricter code of discipline was enforced than would have been tolerated in the SA ranks.

Heiden further demanded that the men under his command were not to be involved in party matters which were none of their concern.

His intention was to create a small elite unit and obtain higher quality recruits.

Except for the Munich area, the unit was unable to maintain any momentum.

The membership of the SS declined from 1,000 to 280 as the SS continued to struggle under the SA.

As Heiden attempted to keep the small group from dissolving, Heinrich Himmler became his deputy in September 1927.

Himmler had a great enthusiasm and vision for the SS and displayed good organisational abilities which Heiden used.

Himmler became the driving force within the SS and in time eclipsed Heiden.

He was dismissed from his post in 1929, officially for "family reasons".

Upon the dismissal of Heiden, Himmler assumed the position of Reichsführer-SS with Hitler's approval in January 1929.

He was arrested after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and executed that same year.