Walter Franz Maria Stennes (12 April 1895 – 19 May 1983) was a leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA, stormtroopers, or "brownshirts") of the Nazi Party in Berlin and the surrounding area.

Hitler quelled the revolt peacefully, but after a second rebellion in March–April 1931, the SA was purged and Stennes was expelled from the party.

After leaving the army, Stennes held positions as a police captain and as a leader of the Freikorps, the volunteer paramilitary units made up largely of ex-servicemen.

[2] Later designated as deputy leaders of the SA, Stennes was appointed OSAF Stellvertreter Ost (transl.

The SA was dissatisfied with Hitler's policy after the Beer Hall Putsch to gain power by legal means.

The stormtroopers bridled under the slow pace inherent in that political strategy, and wanted a revolution, but Hitler intended to use them only for specific purposes as needed by the party.

[4] In addition, the stormtroopers complained about "bossism", favouritism, poor pay, as well as the SA's dependence on the party for funding.

[5] In particular, 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.

Goebbels, shaken by the incident, notified Hitler, who left the Wagner Festival at Bayreuth and flew immediately to Berlin, where Goebbels told him that a resolution of the problems with the SA was needed immediately to prevent the dissatisfaction in Berlin from spreading to the SA in the rest of Germany.

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.

[4][8][9][10] In spring 1931, Stennes continued to complain that the SA in Breslau was not able to turn out for inspection in February 1931 because they lacked footwear.

There is some evidence that Stennes may have been paid by the government of German Chancellor Heinrich Brüning, with the intention of causing conflict within the Nazi movement.

[citation needed] Stennes (played by Hanno Koffler) and his 1931 revolt are depicted in Season 4 of Babylon Berlin.