He was one of the first members of the Nazi Party. He took part in the Beer-Hall Putsch of 1923, but after the trial he was released. He went for a period to Bolivia and worked there as a military instructor. After the victory of the Nazis in the 1930 election he was called back by Hitler, and was appointed commander of the SA, which at that time had about 170,000 members. Following the Nazi seizure of power Roehm wanted the SA to be incorporated into the German Army. He was bitterly opposed by high-ranking army officers who did not want the army to be corrupted by the SA. Hitler was afraid that Roehm will start a second revolution (after the seizure of power), and even intended to dissolve the SA. On June 30, 1934 Roehm was arrested on Hitler's order, together with other SA leaders, some of them were killed at the same day (in what was called later "The Night of the Long Knifes"). On July 1, 1934 Roehm was shot by Hitler's order.
