the Night of the Long Knives

The Night of the Long Knives, which took place from June 30 to July 2, 1934, was a brutal #political #purge orchestrated by Adolf Hitler to consolidate his power in #Nazi #Germany. During this event, Hitler's forces, mainly the SS, systematically eliminated the leadership of the Sturmabteilung (SA), a Nazi paramilitary organization, as well as other political adversaries. Ernst Röhm, the head of the SA, who was seen as a rival by #Hitler, was among those killed. The purge also targeted other figures within the Nazi Party and former political opponents, with at least 85 individuals being executed. This event weakened the SA, significantly strengthened the SS, and played a crucial role in Hitler's establishment of a totalitarian state. The Night of the Long Knives is seen as one of the key events that paved the way for the atrocities of #worldwar2 and the Holocaust.