The Night of the Long Knives: Hitler's Inner Purge

In June 1934, Adolf Hitler ordered the murders of his own stormtrooper leaders and political rivals in a bloody purge known as the Night of the Long Knives. This episode dives deep into the backroom maneuvering between Hitler, Ernst Röhm, the SA, and the German army. We explore how the SA had grown to over three million men, threatening both the Reichswehr and Hitler's own control. Key figures like Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring, and Reinhard Heydrich used the purge to consolidate their power, eliminating not just Röhm but also conservative figures like Kurt von Schleicher and Gustav von Kahr. The episode examines the legal cover provided by the 'Law Regarding Measures of State Self-Defense,' which retroactively legalized the murders, and how this event cemented Hitler's absolute authority. We also touch on the 'Röhm Putsch' narrative and the role of the SS in executing the purge, setting the stage for the Holocaust and World War II. #NightOfTheLongKnives #ErnstRöhm #SA #SS #Hitler #NaziGermany #Reichswehr #HeinrichHimmler #HermannGöring #ReinhardHeydrich #KurtVonSchleicher #GustavVonKahr #RöhmPutsch #WeimarRepublic #ThirdReich #History #FexingoHistory #GermanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo