Night of the Long Knives

• • Threat of the SA - around 3 million members in Jan 1934 and Rohm wanted a second revolution - wanted SA to replace the existing army. Activities of the SA were difficult to control.
  • Goring, Himmler, and Heydrich - drew up the 'Reich list of Unwanted Persons'.
  • On 30th June 1934 Hitler arranged for the SS to kill many of his enemies. Eliminated leadership of the SA and many other political opponents of the Nazis.
• • Old enemies - General Schleicher, Gregor Strasser and von Kahr were killed.
  • On 30 June: Rohm was arrested and taken to prison. Given a gun to kill himself - he refused. Rohm was shot by 2 SS guards.
  • SA declined after these events membership declined to 1.6 million and without Rohm its political power was destroyed.