The Night Of The Long Knives Flashcards
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
This was the name given to the evening on 30th June, 1934 when Hitler executed the leader of the SA, Ernst Rohm with around 100 other members of the SA. More than 1,000 others were arrested.
Why did Hitler decide not to take action against Ernst Rohm
Hitler wanted no rivals to his power but he began to think that the leader of the SA, Ernst Rohm was a threat to him. Rohm had been the SA leader from the start and had huge respect from them – in some cases more than Hitler. They numbered around 3 million and they would be able to give Rohm huge support if he ever wanted to challenge Hitler. Many SA hated Hitler for forming another loyal group of Nazi troops, the SS. Hitler was also under pressure from the leader of the SS, Heinrich Himmler to reduce the power of the SA.
What happened on June 30th, 1934
The SS leaders warned Hitler that Rohm was planning to seize power. Hitler arranged to
to meet with Rohm and other leaders of the SA at a hotel on 30 June 1934. When they met,
Rohm and other senior SA officers were shot and killed. Hitler told the public that they had been monitoring Rohm for months and that he was planning a revolution. Hitler therefore told the public that killing Rohm was in the best interests of Germany and the German people.
