Which event is referred to as the "Night of Long Knives"?

The "Night of Long Knives," which occurred in late June to early July 1934, specifically refers to the purge of the SA leadership orchestrated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. This event was primarily aimed at consolidating Hitler's power by eliminating potential threats within his own party and the wider political landscape.

The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, had played a significant role in the Nazi rise to power, but by 1934, their growing influence and Röhm's ambitions created apprehension among various factions, including the army and more conservative elements within the Nazi Party. The leadership feared that Röhm and the SA posed a direct challenge to both their power and to the stability of the regime.

Hitler seized the opportunity to portray the SA's actions as a threat to order and security, thus justifying the violent crackdown. Over a few days, key SA leaders were arrested and executed, significantly diminishing the SA's power. This act not only neutralized a faction that could potentially rival Hitler's authority but also solidified the loyalty of the Reichswehr (the German army), who were supportive of this decisive action against the SA.

The purge also helped establish the SS (Schutzstaffel) as a more powerful organization