Night of the Long Knives Flashcards
(10 cards)
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
A purge from 30 June to 2 July 1934, during which Hitler eliminated the SA leadership and other political opponents to consolidate his power.
Who was Ernst Röhm and why was he targeted?
Röhm was the leader of the SA. He wanted to merge the SA with the army and implement radical reforms, which threatened Hitler and conservative elites.
What role did the SS play in the Night of the Long Knives?
The SS, under Himmler, carried out the arrests and executions of SA leaders and others, showing its growing power within the Nazi regime.
Why did Hitler turn against the SA?
Their radicalism, size (over 2 million men), and Röhm’s ambitions alarmed the army, business elites, and Hitler himself.
Who else, besides SA leaders, was killed during the purge?
Political enemies including former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher and Nazi rival Gregor Strasser.
How many people were killed during the Night of the Long Knives?
Officially 85; estimates range up to 400.
What was the army’s reaction to the purge?
The army supported the purge and, in return, pledged an oath of loyalty to Hitler after President Hindenburg’s death.
What law retroactively justified the killings?
The Law Regarding Measures of State Self-Defence (passed July 1934).
How did the Night of the Long Knives help Hitler consolidate power?
It removed internal threats, won army support, and increased the SS’s power, paving the way for Hitler to become Führer.
What was the significance of the purge for the Nazi regime?
It marked a shift to openly violent authoritarian rule and established Hitler as the unquestioned leader of Nazi Germany.
