18 Facts About Walter Stennes

Walter Franz Maria Stennes was a leader of the of the Nazi Party in Berlin and the surrounding area.

Walter Stennes was born in 1895 to Fritz Walter Stennes, a bailiff and German Army officer, and his wife, Louise.

Walter Stennes was educated at the cadet school, an official army-run military academy, at Schloss Bensberg.

Walter Stennes took over the leadership of the in the Berlin Gau, replacing Kurt Daluege, and was appointed regional commander-in-chief of the SA in eastern Germany on 30 September 1927.

Walter Stennes led a revolt in August 1930 with members of the Berlin SA, voicing their objections to the policies and purposes of the SA, as defined by Hitler.

In particular, Walter Stennes severely criticised Hitler for spending so much on buying and renovating the Brown House in Munich, to serve as party headquarters while the men of the SA were underpaid.

Walter Stennes wanted more money for the SA and more political power within the National Socialist movement.

Walter Stennes decided that firm action was needed for his threats to be taken seriously.

Walter Stennes then read Hitler's declaration that significant improvements would be made in the financial condition of the SA, the money to come from party dues.

In spring 1931, Walter Stennes continued to complain that the SA in Breslau was not able to turn out for inspection in February 1931 because they lacked footwear.

Walter Stennes believed that the strategy of legality was a failure, as shown by the party failure to win the 1930 Reichstag elections outright by a clear majority.

Walter Stennes complained as well of Ernst Rohm's return to run the SA because of the Chief of Staff's homosexuality.

Goebbels and Goring purged the SA in Berlin, and Walter Stennes was expelled from the party.

Walter Stennes then emigrated to China and arrived with his wife in Shanghai on 19 November 1933 on board the steamboat.

Walter Stennes served as a military advisor to Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang until 1949.

Walter Stennes's efforts were to reorganise the army and police forces of the Chinese nationalists on the model of the Prussian armed forces.

Walter Stennes applied for recognition as a victim of National Socialist tyranny, which was rejected in 1957 by the Federal Court.

Walter Stennes lived in Ludenscheid until his death in 1983.