Significance essay, Veronika Nikolaeva
How significant was the Night of the Long Knives in securing Hitler’s control
over Germany?
Hitler had to choose between the army and the SA. He made his choice – army: on the weekend of
29-30 June 1934 squads of SS men broke int the homes of Rohm and other leading figures in the SA
and arrested some and killed some of them. This purge was the Night of the Long Knives. It was an
important step in the consolidation of power for Hitler, it was significant as it allowed Hitler to
remove people threatening his power, political opposition and it gained him support of the army and
prosperous businessmen. On another side though, it had relative limit to significance, since it only
removed opposition within the Nazi Party; and it can be said that Reichstag fire and enabling act
were more significant to securing Hitler’s power.
The Night of the Long Knives is significant because it allowed Hitler to remove opposition and
individuals he mistrusted, such as Rohm. The SA leader, Rohm, had too much power and had
different political and ideological ideas about the future of Germany. Rohm saw himself as a key part
of the Nazi party and couldn’t imagine the apparatus without him. Hitler to view Rohm with unease:
Rohm believed in socialism and called for a second revolution. As well as he and other SA leaders
were homosexual – this contradicted the picture of Nazis as a clean and pure Aryan-German race.
The SA grew rapidly over time, becoming very powerful. This started to scare the army leaders and
Hitler – Rohm suggested that the SA and German army should merge, with him getting overall
command. This looked like he was trying to take over the army, possibly a step towards taking over
the country. Hitler felt that he needs to get rid of the Rohm, before Rohm would get rid of him. This
had also been encouraged by fake evidence suggesting that Rohm was paid by the French to
overthrow Hitler. All of Rohm’s traits like sexuality, political views and the desire to become chief of
the military made the SA leader a threat and rival to Hitler, which essentially has caused his death in
the night of the long knives. This made Hitler feel more safe, as there wasn’t anyone plotting
anything behind his back and secured his position of power. During the night of the long knives
people like von Schleicher, Bredow (for supporting von Schleicher) and Strasser (for his ideas and
views) were also killed, as they didn’t support Hitler’s ideas. Hitler had an opportunity to take
revenge on those who he didn’t trust and who didn’t trust or support him, like von Kahr, who didn’t
support Hitler during the Munich putsch. All of were basically another step to removing opposition
and Hitler’s enemies, securing him power.
Another reason why night of the long knives was significant, was because it gained Hitler support
and approval of the army and industrialists, granting to be on his side. As the main reason for this
‘massacre’ was the elimination of Rohm, the NotLK has greatly benefited Hitler’s ‘patrons’ – the
army and businessmen. The industrialists were unhappy with Rohm’s views on the economy, since
he supported socialism. There were many concerns that he was going to take money from the
wealthy and give it to the poor; this sounded too similar to communism for many Nazis and their
supporters. Moreover, the high-class army leaders were concerned that SA and Rohm were
becoming too powerful; they felt like they need to get rid of them. And so, Hitler did. After the
purge, Hindenburg has thanked Hitler for his ‘determined action which has nipped treason in the
bud’, army has felt the same way – they were well satisfied as they have enlarged their forces and
got a proper control of the SA and its people. This gave Hitler even more support from key figures in
German politics, and as later found, the loyalty of the army; and greater freedom, thus security, in
politics, since army agreed to stay out of politics. Although army’s main concern was the strength of
the SA, they also didn’t like it for its behaviour. The typical SA member was usually a former soldier
How significant was the Night of the Long Knives in securing Hitler’s control
over Germany?
Hitler had to choose between the army and the SA. He made his choice – army: on the weekend of
29-30 June 1934 squads of SS men broke int the homes of Rohm and other leading figures in the SA
and arrested some and killed some of them. This purge was the Night of the Long Knives. It was an
important step in the consolidation of power for Hitler, it was significant as it allowed Hitler to
remove people threatening his power, political opposition and it gained him support of the army and
prosperous businessmen. On another side though, it had relative limit to significance, since it only
removed opposition within the Nazi Party; and it can be said that Reichstag fire and enabling act
were more significant to securing Hitler’s power.
The Night of the Long Knives is significant because it allowed Hitler to remove opposition and
individuals he mistrusted, such as Rohm. The SA leader, Rohm, had too much power and had
different political and ideological ideas about the future of Germany. Rohm saw himself as a key part
of the Nazi party and couldn’t imagine the apparatus without him. Hitler to view Rohm with unease:
Rohm believed in socialism and called for a second revolution. As well as he and other SA leaders
were homosexual – this contradicted the picture of Nazis as a clean and pure Aryan-German race.
The SA grew rapidly over time, becoming very powerful. This started to scare the army leaders and
Hitler – Rohm suggested that the SA and German army should merge, with him getting overall
command. This looked like he was trying to take over the army, possibly a step towards taking over
the country. Hitler felt that he needs to get rid of the Rohm, before Rohm would get rid of him. This
had also been encouraged by fake evidence suggesting that Rohm was paid by the French to
overthrow Hitler. All of Rohm’s traits like sexuality, political views and the desire to become chief of
the military made the SA leader a threat and rival to Hitler, which essentially has caused his death in
the night of the long knives. This made Hitler feel more safe, as there wasn’t anyone plotting
anything behind his back and secured his position of power. During the night of the long knives
people like von Schleicher, Bredow (for supporting von Schleicher) and Strasser (for his ideas and
views) were also killed, as they didn’t support Hitler’s ideas. Hitler had an opportunity to take
revenge on those who he didn’t trust and who didn’t trust or support him, like von Kahr, who didn’t
support Hitler during the Munich putsch. All of were basically another step to removing opposition
and Hitler’s enemies, securing him power.
Another reason why night of the long knives was significant, was because it gained Hitler support
and approval of the army and industrialists, granting to be on his side. As the main reason for this
‘massacre’ was the elimination of Rohm, the NotLK has greatly benefited Hitler’s ‘patrons’ – the
army and businessmen. The industrialists were unhappy with Rohm’s views on the economy, since
he supported socialism. There were many concerns that he was going to take money from the
wealthy and give it to the poor; this sounded too similar to communism for many Nazis and their
supporters. Moreover, the high-class army leaders were concerned that SA and Rohm were
becoming too powerful; they felt like they need to get rid of them. And so, Hitler did. After the
purge, Hindenburg has thanked Hitler for his ‘determined action which has nipped treason in the
bud’, army has felt the same way – they were well satisfied as they have enlarged their forces and
got a proper control of the SA and its people. This gave Hitler even more support from key figures in
German politics, and as later found, the loyalty of the army; and greater freedom, thus security, in
politics, since army agreed to stay out of politics. Although army’s main concern was the strength of
the SA, they also didn’t like it for its behaviour. The typical SA member was usually a former soldier
