The Night of Long Knives
Throughout the history of the Nazi Regime in Germany, several mass purges of the population took place, the most prominent of which being the Night of Broken Glass. But there is one purge that is different than all the others. Whereas most other purges involved the killing of supposedly "inferior" races, like the Jews, the Night of Long Knives saw the mass killing of many of the "superior" Aryans in the Nazi party.
In May 1934, Hitler had been the chancellor of Germany for just over a year. But despite the fact that he had gained near-absolute power, there were still a few major obstacles he had to overcome in order to reach his goals. One of the most prominent of these obstacles was his old friend Ernst Röhm, who Hitler feared was gaining too much power. Another was the issue of the loyalty of the German military, which was key in Hitler's foreign policy goals. Finally, Hitler also had to deal with the President of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, who had the power to easily stop any of Hitler's plans.
To address the first two issues, Hitler looked for an excuse to dispose of Röhm, since it would not only get rid a major threat to his power in the Nazi Party, but it would also help win over the loyalty of the military, who hated Röhm and his Stormtroopers. By getting rid of Röhm, Hitler would be able to kill two stones with one stone. However, it was easier said than done - he couldn't get rid of such a prominent figure without a valid excuse.
Luckily for Hitler, he found the excuse he was looking for in June of 1934, when Heinrich Himmler alleged to Hitler that Röhm was plotting a coup d'etat to take over the Nazi party. As a result, on the night of June 30, 1934, Hitler ordered Himmler and the SS to kill Röhm and several key leaders of the SA, before following up with the command to kill several other key opponents' of Hitlers. Along with professors, judges, and vocal critics, some of the most notable deaths included Kurt von Schleicher, the last chancellor of the Weimar Republic, and Gregor Strasser, ex-second in command of the Nazi party. Although the exact death toll is uncertain, it is estimated that at least 100 people were killed in the purge.
Impressed and grateful for Hitler's quick disposal of Röhm, the German military swore loyalty to Hitler shortly after the killings. As a result, Hitler was not only able to eliminate key political opposition with the Night of Long Knives, but was also able to gain the loyalty of the German Army, thus killing two birds with one stone. As a result, once Hindenburg died a few months later, Hitler was able to assume total control of Germany.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Night-of-the-Long-Knives
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/night-of-the-long-knives
In May 1934, Hitler had been the chancellor of Germany for just over a year. But despite the fact that he had gained near-absolute power, there were still a few major obstacles he had to overcome in order to reach his goals. One of the most prominent of these obstacles was his old friend Ernst Röhm, who Hitler feared was gaining too much power. Another was the issue of the loyalty of the German military, which was key in Hitler's foreign policy goals. Finally, Hitler also had to deal with the President of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, who had the power to easily stop any of Hitler's plans.
To address the first two issues, Hitler looked for an excuse to dispose of Röhm, since it would not only get rid a major threat to his power in the Nazi Party, but it would also help win over the loyalty of the military, who hated Röhm and his Stormtroopers. By getting rid of Röhm, Hitler would be able to kill two stones with one stone. However, it was easier said than done - he couldn't get rid of such a prominent figure without a valid excuse.
Luckily for Hitler, he found the excuse he was looking for in June of 1934, when Heinrich Himmler alleged to Hitler that Röhm was plotting a coup d'etat to take over the Nazi party. As a result, on the night of June 30, 1934, Hitler ordered Himmler and the SS to kill Röhm and several key leaders of the SA, before following up with the command to kill several other key opponents' of Hitlers. Along with professors, judges, and vocal critics, some of the most notable deaths included Kurt von Schleicher, the last chancellor of the Weimar Republic, and Gregor Strasser, ex-second in command of the Nazi party. Although the exact death toll is uncertain, it is estimated that at least 100 people were killed in the purge.
Impressed and grateful for Hitler's quick disposal of Röhm, the German military swore loyalty to Hitler shortly after the killings. As a result, Hitler was not only able to eliminate key political opposition with the Night of Long Knives, but was also able to gain the loyalty of the German Army, thus killing two birds with one stone. As a result, once Hindenburg died a few months later, Hitler was able to assume total control of Germany.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Night-of-the-Long-Knives
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/night-of-the-long-knives
Wow! This is such a well-written blog post, great job. :) I really found it especially interesting that the Night of the Long Knives was a purge that killed non-Jews. Before I read this, I was under the impression that only Jews were killed. I appreciate that you cleared that up. :) I remember learning about how Himmler told Hitler that Rohm was planning a coup, and even though it wasn't true, Hitler believed him and had Rohm killed. I feel like this relates a lot to our current president, Donald Trump. Trump tends to weave things in a way that makes it seem really good, but it actually is not at all.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many different "purges" during Hitler's rule but I think this one was the one with the most logic behind it because the people who were killed were important people in the government and who were potentially opposing Hitler. Hitler had them killed in order to gain power and the list of people seemed to be pretty specific. However, with the other "purges" the goal was just to kill as many Jewish people as possible and it didn't matter who they were. By comparing the two we can see how one was to help Hitler's political power while the other was to express his hatred towards Jewish people.
ReplyDeleteHitler was a very paranoid man. Just like other dictators throughout the world like Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un today. Ernst Rohm was one of Hitlers earliest comrades. Hitler was fooled by Himmler who was just part of his bodyguard unit. In a battle for power decided to manipulate Rohm's murder. Also Hitler had a pattern of giving contradictory orders to two different generals. This would ofter cause competition and that is why a lot of Hitler's leaders were killed.
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