night of the long knives

• what was the SA?


  - Paramilitary force, originally consisted of WW1 soldiers, then unemployed men

  - Organised like army, wore brown military uniforms

  - Undisciplined violence, protected Nazi leaders, intimidated opponents and fought political groups on the streets
• who led the SA?

  Ernst Rohm
• why was Hitler worried about the threat of the SA?


  -worried about rohms growing power who wanted to combine and lead the SA and the army

  -this alarmed army leaders that Hitler needed approval from
• what was the night of the long knives?


  -organised murder of Nazis and SA leaders that Hitler believed to be threats
• who carried out the night of the long knives?

  the SS
• when was the night of the long knives?


  -30th June 1934
• who was killed during the night of the long knives?


  -400 political opponents

  -including Rohm , general von schliecher (ex chancellor)
• why is the night of the long knives important?

  -rivals dead

  -rise of SS

  -SA never again major force

  -Established pattern of Nazi dictatorship by murder and violence