June 30th: The Night of the Long Knives

Commencing on the night of June 30th 1934, and ending July 2nd 1934, Nazi Germany's leader Adolf Hitler devised a plan to dispose of alternative parties and anti-Nazi politicians who disagreed with his policies and new regime. The plan was to brutally murder as many as possible, and then make out he was doing Germany a favour by doing so...classic Hitler. This bloodthirsty scheme is now referred to as 'The Night of the Long Knives', which is a German phrase existing before Hitler's actions, signifying an act of vengeance.

"The Only Way is Nazi"

    Hitler performed the massacre with a little help from his friends, the secret police, who consisted of the SS (Schutzstaffel) and the Gestapo. At the top of Hitler's hit-list were Gregor Strasser, the main conservative anti-Nazis (i.e. ex-Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher and Gustav Ritter von Kahl), and the leaders of the SA (Sturmabteilung). These groups were targeted because their independence from the Nazi party threatened Hitler's new regime, and he didn't want to risk them conflicting and intervening with his future plans. 
   There were at least 85 deaths officially reported, but knowing the murdering history of the Nazis, it was probably a lot more. Those who weren't killed were arrested over the course of the three days. To be honest, I don't know why the Gestapo and the SS were called 'the secret police'...they really didn't do a good job of keeping it on the hush. Several political leaders had mysteriously disappeared all at the same time, but Hitler had somehow managed to escape this sudden politician wipeout?! Goebbels tried at first to censor the newspapers, but later made a public radio address to the nation relating how Hitler had narrowly saved the government from being overthrown by Rohm and Schleicher, and consequently unleashing turmoil on Germany.
   Unfortunately, 'The Night of the Long Knives' was generally viewed as a triumph for Hitler and the Nazi Party, and formed a gateway for him to proceed with his regime, eventually leading to the outbreak of World War 2. The aging President Hindenburg, still recognised as the nation's highly respected military hero, even telegramed Adolf Hitler saying he 'profoundly felt gratitude' and congratulated him for 'nipping treason in the bud'. Thus, June 30th marked the only the beginning of Hitler's ruthless murderous rule, winning the German public's support and eliminating any opposition in his path.