# Erhard Heiden

Erhard Heiden (23 February 1901 – 19 March 1933) was a German Nazi politician who served as the Reichsführer-SS of the Schutzstaffel (SS) from 1927 to 1929.
Heiden was an early member of the Nazi Party and the Sturmabteilung (SA), a close associate of Adolf Hitler, and a member of the Stoßtrupp-Hitler who had participated in Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. Heiden replaced Joseph Berchtold as head of the SS, an elite unit of the SA, introducing stricter discipline and advocated for its separation from the SA. Heiden was unsuccessful as Reichsführer-SS with membership of the SS dropping significantly and having no presence outside of Munich under his leadership. Heiden was dismissed as Reichsführer-SS in 1929, officially for "family reasons", returning to the SA and private business. Heiden was arrested in March 1933 shortly after the Nazis came to power and found dead in September. The true reason for Heiden's dismissal and murder, as well as the perpetrator, have never been proven.

## Early life

Heiden was born on 23 February 1901 in Weiler-Simmerberg, Bavaria, to an unmarried mother Maria Heiden. Little is known about his early life. In 1917, towards the end of World War I, Heiden joined the Bavarian Army and attended the non-commissioned officer school in Fürstenfeldbruck. In 1919, Heiden served in a Freikorps unit in Berlin and then one in Munich.

## Political career
### SA career

In 1922, Heiden joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party or NSDAP) based in Munich, and its paramilitary wing the Sturmabteilung (SA). In 1923, Heiden joined a small personal bodyguard unit for Hitler named Stoßtrupp-Hitler ("Shock Troop–Hitler"). In the autumn, Heiden attracted public attention when he and fellow Stoßtrupp-Hitler member Joseph Berchtold attacked and brutally beat Siegmund Fraenkel, the Jewish vice president of the Munich Chamber of Commerce, along with his wife and son. The Völkischer Beobachter celebrated the attack with the remark "We are glad that Munich is gradually gaining the reputation that it is better for Jews and other foreigners not to enter the city at all." Later that year Hitler, inspired by Benito Mussolini's March on Rome the previous year, felt strong enough to try to seize power in Munich. The Nazis aimed to first establish power in Munich and then challenge the federal government in Berlin. On 9 November 1923, the Stoßtrupp-Hitler, along with the SA and several other paramilitary units, took part in the Beer Hall Putsch. The abortive coup d'état resulted in the death of sixteen Nazi supporters and four police officers, with Hitler and other Nazi leaders being incarcerated at Landsberg Prison for high treason. The Nazi Party and all associated formations were officially disbanded, including the Stoßtrupp-Hitler whose members were put on trial for their involvement in the Beer Hall Putsch.

### SS career

After Hitler's release from prison in December 1924, the Nazi Party was officially refounded in February 1925, including its associated organisations. Hitler ordered the formation of a new bodyguard unit of the SA, the Schutzkommando ("Protection Command"), as a successor to the Stoßtrupp-Hitler. It was formed by Julius Schreck and included old Stoßtrupp-Hitler members such as Heiden and Emil Maurice. 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. In April 1926, his friend Berchtold became Reichsführer-SS (leader) of the SS.
On 1 March 1927, Berchtold transferred leadership of the SS to Heiden, who was his acting deputy, having become disillusioned by the SA's authority over the SS. Under his leadership, a stricter code of discipline was enforced than would have been tolerated in the SA ranks, and he 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. Heiden's tenure as Reichsführer-SS was largely unsuccessful, as the SS was unable to maintain any momentum except for the Munich area. The membership of the SS declined significantly from 1,000 to 280, as the SS continued to struggle under the SA. Heiden, like Berchtold, found it difficult to function under the larger and more powerful SA and advocated for its separation into an independent organisation. Heinrich Himmler became his deputy in September 1927 and he attempted to keep the small group from dissolving. Himmler had a great enthusiasm and vision for the SS, displayed good organisational abilities which Heiden used, becoming its driving force and in time eclipsed Heiden.
On 6 January 1929, Heiden was dismissed as Reichsführer-SS, with Himmler assuming the position of Reichsführer-SS with Hitler's approval. There are differing accounts of the reason for this dismissal, with party's official announcement that it was for "family reasons". It was also suggested at the time that the dismissal was due to Heiden associating with Jews. Starting in 1928, Heiden was co-owner of a clothing supply business that sold uniforms to the SS. Another company in Munich supplied Heiden and his partner with the pants which were used for the SS uniforms. It was discovered that this other company was owned by a Jew. Further, it was alleged that Heiden had been making large profits on the clothing sales to the SS for uniforms. This then led to Heiden having to resign as head of the SS. Historian Adrian Weale believes the primary reason for his dismissal was due to him being ineffective in the job. There were also rumors that he was a police informer. Himmler's biographer, Peter Longerich, says that beyond the official announcement, "we have no further clues to explain either Heiden's dismissal or Himmler's appointment". Under Himmler, the SS greatly expanded over time, with his ultimate aim being the one to turn it into the most powerful organization in Germany.

## Death

In March 1933, shortly after the Nazis came to power, Heiden was having dinner in the Orlando coffee house in Munich after visiting his friend Maurice. Heiden was arrested by members of the Sicherheitsdienst ("Security Service"; SD) at the coffee house and subsequently disappeared. He was murdered sometime later, presumably by members of the SD.
Heiden was officially listed as missing on 18 March 1933. On 28 March 1933, Paul Schulz wrote the following about Heiden's disappearance:
"Today I find out that some time ago (14 days) the former SS leader Hayden [[[sic]]] disappeared. In the evening he was visiting his friend Maurice and went from there to his apartment, which is only a few houses away. On the way he visited a pub nearby, drank his beer and ate alone. After a while, an SA man came and asked to speak to him, asking him to come outside. Since that time he has not returned. After half an hour this SA man came again and fetched Hayden's coat and hat. Hayden left without a coat or hat and without paying."
Heiden's mother asked his old friend Maurice to look for him, turning to Josef Gerum for help, who finally went with August Schneidhuber to see Himmler about the disappearance. When Gerum and Schneidhuber asked him about Heiden's whereabouts, Himmler, as Gerum later claimed, reacted "out of temper" and forbade any interference. According to Schulz, at the end of March an SS-Sturmfuhrer told Maurice that if he said another word about the Heiden affair or made any further inquiries into his whereabouts, he was a "goner". Maurice raised the incident with Hitler, who simply recommended that he withdraw from Munich for a while.
Heiden's body was discovered months later, on 13 August 1933, in the Neufinsing works canal near Erding (according to the Erding district court) and buried on 15 September. According to Karl Ortner, his body had a gunshot wound to the head. The probable date of death was officially set as 19 March 1933.