Viktor Lutze (December 28, 1890 – May 2, 1943) was an SA officer who held the rank of Obergruppenführer in Nazi Germany. Lutze's participation in the Night of the Long Knives in 1934 was very important, as it was he who informed Adolf Hitler about Ernst Röhm's anti-regime activities. When the time came, Lutze assisted Hitler in making lists of those who should be liquidated starting with seven top SA officials and ending with more than 80. After the purge Lutze succeeded Röhm as Stabschef SA. Lutze maintained his position in the SA until his death. On May 1, 1943 he was driving a car near Potsdam with his family. Driving too fast in a curve caused an accident that badly injured Lutze. Viktor Lutze died during an operation in a hospital in Potsdam at 10:30 the next evening. Hitler ordered a lavish state funeral for him on May 7, 1943 in the Reich Chancellery and attended in person, something he rarely did at that stage in the war. Lutze was posthumously awarded the Highest Grade of the German Order by Hitler.
Quotes
- The tragedy in the long history of the German people is that it has seldom had real leaders. Not that it lacked military leadership. What was lacking was political leadership, the political idea, the Weltanschauung (worldview) that National Socialism gives. The S.A. man as a political soldier is the bearer of this Weltanschauung, this National Socialist idea. Political soldiery is the foundation of the state.
- Quoted in "The Educational Philosophy of National Socialism" - Page 174 - by George Frederick Kneller - 1941.
- Not a single Storm Trooper would have followed Röhm. The whole body was merely a revolt of leaders, and only quite a small group of the leaders were willing to take part.
- Quoted in "Bulletin of International News" - Page 51.
- In order to give conscious expression to the fostering of a valiant spirit in all parts of the German people, I further decide that this SA Sport Insignia [badge] can also be earned and worn by persons who are not members of the movement insofar as they comply racially and ideologically with the National Socialist requirements.
- Quoted in "Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal" - Page 152 - Nuremberg, Germany - 1947.
- I must tell you first, in order to clear up any uncertainty about my own position, that I never speak primarily as a member of the S.A., but as a National Socialist, since the S.A. cannot be independent of the National Socialist movement but can only exist as a part of it.
- Quoted in "Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal" - Page 130 - Nuremberg, Germany - 1947.
About Lutze
- Unfortunately Lutze allowed his wife and the family's friendship with Brauchitsch to manoeuvre him into excessive opposition to the SS. Everywhere he criticizes and grumbles. Everywhere he feels that his SA has been put in the shade. He has got into the wrong hands.
- The day of Roehm's execution, Hitler blandly announced that he had "relieved...Roehm of his position and ejected him from the Party", and under colour of this macabre euphemism appointed Viktor Lutze as Roehm's successor. But Lutze was no Roehm, and the SA was never again to play a significant role in the power politics of the Third Reich.
- SA boys received him coolly.
- SA men should be leaders, not ludicrous apes.
- Adolf Hitler, in a twelve-point directive about cleaning up the SA issued to Lutze.