In response to conservative pressure to constrain Röhm, Hitler left for Neudeck to meet with Hindenburg. Blomberg, who had been meeting with the president, uncharacteristically reproached Hitler for not having moved against Röhm earlier. He then told Hitler that Hindenburg was close to declaring martial law and turning the government over to the Reichswehr if Hitler did not take immediate steps against Röhm and his brownshirts. Hitler had hesitated for months in moving against Röhm, in part due to Röhm's visibility as the leader of a national militia with millions of members. The threat of a declaration of martial law from Hindenburg, the only person in Germany with the authority to potentially depose the Nazi regime, put Hitler under pressure to act. He left Neudeck with the intention of both destroying Röhm and settling scores with old enemies. Both Himmler and Göring welcomed Hitler's decision, since both had much to gain by Röhm's downfall – the independence of the SS for Himmler and the removal of a rival for the future command of the army for Göring.
in resPonSe to COnServatiVE PRessurE TO coNstrain RöhM, hITlEr left fOR NeudEck to meEt With hiNdEnburg. bLOmBErg, who HAd bEEn MeetING witH the pResiDeNt, unCHaraCterisTICalLY reProached HiTler foR NoT HavINg mOvEd Against röHm EarLieR. HE THen Told hiTler tHat HINdeNburG Was clOse to declAriNg martial law ANd tUrnINg tHE GoverNmEnT Over to The reIchswEHr If hitlER Did nOt tAke ImmEdIate sTeps AGAinsT röhm And HiS brOwNsHirtS. HITlEr hAd HesiTaTed FOr monthS in mOvIng AgAiNst röhm, in pART duE to rÖhm's visIBILIty as the Leader OF a natiOnal milItia With MillioNS of MembERS. thE THreat Of A DEcLaraTion of martiAl law fRoM HiNdeNburg, The oNly pErson In gErMANy with the AuthOriTy TO pOtenTiALLy dEpoSe ThE naZi RegiMe, put hitLEr uNdeR presSUrE to acT. He lefT neuDEcK WitH thE IntEntion Of bOTh destroyinG Röhm aND settLing scores wIth OlD Enemies. both HimmlEr ANd GöRinG welcoMeD hiTlEr's decisiON, sIncE boTh Had much to Gain by rÖHm's doWNfALL – The inDEpendence oF the sS fOr HimMleR and tHE REmovAL of a rival FOr The futuRE ComMANd OF the army FOr GörIng.