The Night of the Long Knives

The Night of the Long Knives

The SA had played a major role in the Nazi climb to power. Its leader Ernst Röhm wanted to make more of the socialist part of the Nazi Party’s programme by nationalising Germany’s industries. Hitler had never been very interested in this and now that he was in power he was suspicious of the power and influence of the SA. He was also worried that Röhm had plans to merge the German army with the SA.

Not surprisingly the German generals were anxious to get rid of the SA, and Hitler had already decided that he needed the support of the army more than…