The Night of The Long Knives

By 1933 Hitler had become Chancellor. The post he wanted was President. There was one thing blocking his way - The SA or Brownshirts.

The Brownshirts were Hitler's thugs who had helped him get to his position as Chancellor. They would beat up any opponents, smash up Communist Party meetings and generally make sure the path was smooth for Hitler. 

They were led by a man called Ernst Rohm. Rohm was beginning to worry Hitler. He was starting to question some of Hitler's ideas and looked like he could be a challenge to his leadership. 

The figure of Ernst Rohm was a real worry to Hitler.

There was another problem with the SA, the German army (Reichwehr) were very suspicious of them. They thought Hitler may not be able to control the SA.

Hitler needed to act. He now used his new force, the Blackshirts (SS) to clear or purge the SA. On the night of 30th June 1934 the leaders of the SA ; several hundred SA members were shot.

Hitler had made built up such a strong system of propaganda that people saw him not as a murderer, but a saviour. He said he had caught a plot by these people just in time. The Army supported him as did big business, who now felt safe under Hitler.

A few weeks later President Hindenburg died and Hitler took the combined role of President and Chancellor- he used his new title; Fuhrer.

This cartoon by the British cartoonist Lowe is one of the 'favourites' of examiners about the Night of the Long Knives. It has a caption "They salute with both hands now!". If you get a source based question like this you need to make full use of all of the features with your subject knowledge.

What can you see on this cartoon?

a) Hitler's armband is labeled 'the double cross'. You can develop what this term means and how he had 'double-crossed the SA.

b) 'They salute with both hands now!' A reference to the loyalty they showed Hitler and the symbolic raised arm for a Nazi salute is replaced with both hands up as they are to be shot.

c) Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Minister of Propaganda was known as the 'poisoned dwarf'. You could describe how pathetic he is made to look under Hitler's legs.

d) Herman Goering was shown as a strong figure along Hitler. He was to be in charge of the German army. He is made to look like a figure from German Opera.