Night of the Long Knives Flashcards
Who was the leader of the SA?
Ernst Rohm
How many members did the SA have by 1934?
3 million
How big was the Reichwehr (regular army)?
100,000
What was the main reason Hitler launched the Night of the Long Knives?
He believed Rohm and the SA presented a genuine threat to his leadership.
What other reasons were there for Hitler launching the Night of the Long Knives?
- He wanted the support of the Reichwehr (regular army) who disliked Rohm. Rohm wanted the SA to replace the German Army and the SA dwarfed it in size.
- Leaders of the SS, such as Himmler and Heydrich, resented Rohm. They wanted to reduce the power of the SA and increase the power of the SS.
What was the trigger for the Night of the Long Knives?
In 1934, leaders of the SS and the army warned Hitler that Rohm was planning to seize power.
When did the Night of the Long Knives take place?
30 June - 1 July 1934
Which key figures were executed?
- Ernst Rohm
- Gneral von Schleicher (the ex-chancellor)
- Gregor Strasser (a Nazi member who had socialist views similar to Rohm’s)
Overall, roughly how many people were killed in the Night of the Long Knives?
Around 400 people
Why did some people welcome the purge?
The SA were hated for their brutality. Hitler had clearly limited their power.
