Night of the Long Knives and the Death of Hindenburg

• Purging of Hitler's political and military opponents in the Sturmabteilung
• Also known as "Operation Hummingbird" or the "Blood Purge"

Would win support of the army

In the first years of chancellorship, Hitler saw the SA as a real threat

The SA had been a key part of Nazi growth and by 1933 they were well known all across Germany

Most members were working class and favoured the socialist view of the Nazis. They hoped that Hitler would introduce reforms to help workers

However, Hitler considered the SA a threat:

• Ernst Röhm, leader of the SA, wanted to incorporate the army into the SA and was disappointed by Hitler's close relations with industrialists and army leaders
• He wanted more government interference in the country to help ordinary citizens. He wanted to move away from Germany's class structure and establish greater equality; in effect, he wanted a social revolution

There was further tension as Hitler's private bodyguard, the Schutzstaffel (led by Heinrich Himmler), wanted to break away from the SA. Leader of the Gestapo, Hermann Goering, wanted to lead the armed forces and therefore saw Röhm as an opponent

30th June 1934

Following information from Himmler that Röhm was about to seize power, Hitler took action

Hitler chose the army over the SA

On the night of June 30, Röhm and other main SA leaders were shot by ** members

Other old enemies, such as ex-Chancellor von Schleicher and Gregor Strasser (a key figure with similar socialist views to Röhm) were also killed

Around 400 people were killed in total in the purge

The Night of the Long Knives is often seen as a turning point in Nazi rule

• He eradicated would-be opponents and secured support of the army
• The SA was relegated to a minor role
• If there was any doubt in Hitler's rule, it was now clear that terror and fear would play significant roles

Hitler wanted to completely secure the army's allegiance. On 2nd Aug 1934, following the death of President Hindenburg, they were forced to swear an oath of loyalty to their now-Führer.

Hindenburg died of lung cancer on the 2nd of August 1934

Germany, now without a President, gained a new post: Führer, the combination of Chancellor and President, which Hitler created by merging the two

Hitler held a referendum to seek the approval of Germany on his new post. On 19th August, more than 90% of voters (38 million) agreed with his action. 4.5 million voted to disagree and 870,000 spoiled their ballot papers