As a means of isolating Röhm, on 20 April 1934, Göring transferred control of the Prussian political police (Gestapo) to Himmler, who, Göring believed, could be counted on to move against Röhm. Himmler named his deputy Reinhard Heydrich to head the Gestapo on 22 April 1934. Himmler envied the independence and power of the SA, although by this time he and Heydrich had already begun restructuring the SS from a bodyguard formation for Nazi leaders (and a subset of the SA) into its own independent elite corps, one loyal to both himself and Hitler. The loyalty of the SS men would prove useful to both when Hitler finally chose to move against Röhm and the SA. By May, lists of those to be "liquidated" started to circulate amongst Göring and Himmler's people, who engaged in a trade, adding enemies of one in exchange for sparing friends of the other. At the end of May Brüning and Schleicher, two former chancellors, received warnings from friends in the Reichswehr that their lives were in danger and they should leave Germany at once. Brüning fled to the Netherlands while Schleicher dismissed the tip-off as a bad practical joke. By the beginning of June everything was set and all that was needed was permission from Hitler.
as a means of isolating röhm on 20 april 1934 göring transferred control of the prussian political police (gestapo) to himmler who göring believed could be counted on to move against röhm himmler named his deputy reinhard heydrich to head the gestapo on 22 april 1934 himmler envied the independence and power of the sa although by this time he and heydrich had already begun restructuring the ss from a bodyguard formation for nazi leaders (and a subset of the sa) into its own independent elite corps one loyal to both himself and hitler the loyalty of the ss men would prove useful to both when hitler finally chose to move against röhm and the sa by may lists of those to be "liquidated" started to circulate amongst göring and himmler's people who engaged in a trade adding enemies of one in exchange for sparing friends of the other at the end of may brüning and schleicher two former chancellors received warnings from friends in the reichswehr that their lives were in danger and they should leave germany at once brüning fled to the netherlands while schleicher dismissed the tip-off as a bad practical joke by the beginning of june everything was set and all that was needed was permission from hitler