Erhard Heiden (23 February 1901 – 19 March 1933) was an early member of the Nazi Party and the third commander of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the paramilitary wing of the Sturmabteilung ("Storm Detachment; SA").

At that time the SS numbered fewer than a thousand men and Heiden found it difficult to cope under the much larger SA.

[3] Following Germany's defeat in World War I, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, poverty, crime and civil unrest plagued the country.

[8] In 1923, Heiden joined a small personal bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler named Stoßtrupp-Hitler ("Shock Troop–Hitler").

Inspired by Benito Mussolini's "March on Rome" the previous year, the Nazis aimed to first establish power in Munich and then challenge the government in Berlin.

On 9 November 1923, the Stoßtrupp, along with the SA and several other paramilitary units, took part in the abortive coup d'état, resulting in the death of sixteen Nazi supporters and four police officers, an event known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

[14] Heiden, described by William Shirer as "a former police stool-pigeon of unsavory reputation",[15] joined the SS in 1925 and was an early advocate of separating the unit from the SA, its parent organization.

[17][18] As head of the SS, Heiden also found it difficult to function under the larger and more powerful SA.

Himmler had a great enthusiasm and vision for the SS and displayed good organisational abilities which Heiden used.

Further, it was alleged that Heiden had been making large profits on the clothing sales to the SS for uniforms.

[2] Historian Adrian Weale believes the primary reason for his dismissal was due to him being ineffective in the job.

[25] 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.

[26] In March 1933, after a visit to his friend Emil Maurice, Heiden was arrested by members of the Sicherheitsdienst ("Security Service"; SD) while he was having dinner in the Orlando coffee house in Munich.

[28] 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".