Hitler and the Night of the Long Knives

The Night of the Long Knives, a series of political extrajudicial executions that took place in Nazi Germany from 30 June to 2 July 1934, was a pivotal moment in Adolf Hitler’s rise to absolute power. This purge was primarily directed against the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, but also targeted other political adversaries. The event marked a significant consolidation of power for Hitler, establishing his authority and demonstrating the ruthless measures he was willing to employ.

The rise of the SA

The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, played a crucial role in Hitler’s ascent to power. Comprising largely of working-class men, the SA had grown to a formidable force of about 3 million by 1934. They were instrumental in intimidating and eliminating opposition during the Nazi Party’s rise. However, Röhm and the SA’s increasing demands for more political power and a “second revolution” to implement more radical socialist elements of the Nazi agenda posed a threat to Hitler’s relationship with the German military (Reichswehr) and the conservative establishment.

Political tensions and Hitler’s dilemma

Hitler faced a delicate balancing act. The SA’s radicalism alienated influential conservatives and the military, whose support he needed to fully consolidate his power. Röhm’s ambitions threatened to destabilise Hitler’s control, leading to growing concerns among the Nazi leadership and Germany’s industrial and military elite. Key figures like Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring, and Joseph Goebbels began to view Röhm as a liability.

The final catalyst for the purge was a series of fabricated rumours suggesting that Röhm was planning a coup against Hitler. The propaganda campaign, orchestrated by Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich, depicted Röhm as a traitor conspiring with foreign enemies. This provided the pretext Hitler needed to eliminate Röhm and his SA loyalists.

The purge unfolds

On the night of 30 June 1934, Hitler, accompanied by SS troops, personally arrested Röhm and other SA leaders at a resort in Bad Wiessee. Over the next two days, SS and Gestapo units arrested and executed scores of SA leaders and other political adversaries. Estimates of the number of victims vary, but it is generally believed that at least 85 people were killed, though some sources suggest the number could be much higher.

Prominent figures who were murdered included Gregor Strasser, a former Nazi who had fallen out with Hitler, and Kurt von Schleicher, the former chancellor. Röhm himself was offered the option of suicide but refused and was subsequently executed.

Aftermath and impact

The Night of the Long Knives had profound implications for Nazi Germany. It effectively neutralised the SA as a political force and solidified the SS under Himmler as the dominant paramilitary organisation in the Third Reich. The purge also eliminated any significant internal dissent within the Nazi Party, consolidating Hitler’s absolute control.

Hitler publicly justified the purge in a speech to the Reichstag on 13 July 1934, claiming that he acted as “the supreme judge of the German people” to avert a coup and preserve national stability. The Reichstag retroactively legalised the murders, cementing the legality of Hitler’s actions.

For the military, the purge was a reassurance that their status and interests would be protected under Hitler’s regime. Consequently, the Reichswehr swore an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler, further entrenching his dictatorial power.

The Night of the Long Knives marked a turning point in Hitler’s path to dictatorial rule, showcasing his willingness to use extreme violence to maintain control. It eliminated significant opposition within the Nazi Party, placated the military, and demonstrated the brutal methods the regime would employ to eliminate perceived threats. This event foreshadowed the oppressive and murderous policies that would come to define the Third Reich, leading to unprecedented atrocities in the years that followed.