June 1934 Adolf Hitler approves the executions of 6 people with a 7th Ernst Rohm being added by Herman Goring. Through a complex series of events, the list grows to an unknown number with 85 seemingly the credibly agreed upon lower limit. This was the Night Of The Long Knives.
Of the 85 confirmed executions, the most noteworthy are:
- Previous Chancellor and Reichswehr General, Kurt Von Schleicher (KVS)
- Ernst Rohm (ER) leader of the SA
- Gregor Strasser (GS)
KVS was predecessor to AH as Chancellor. In the July 32 election the NSDAP won 37% a large majority in the Reichstag, with AH seeking Chancellorship. KVS attempted to create a coalition which would split the NSDAP with himself as Chancellor.
More ominously KVS (and his co-conspirators) was central to the coup plot of 1934, whereby the Chancellor would be assassinated and the government overthrown. Knowledge of this coup was shared with (at least) one French official.
Foreknowledge of the coup seemingly influenced French foreign policy in their negotiations with Germany, constituting High Treason on the part of KVS. The credibility of these details is underscored by two French historians Jacques Benoist-Méchin and J.B. Duroselle
The mainstream seek to deny this. Wikipedia inaccurately claims the coup was fabricated giving two sources. The 1st source infact, says it was indeed credible, KVS had regular contact with the diplomat, and falls short of highlighting what exactly, was the fabrication
Bizarrely the 2nd source bases its denial of the coup squarely on the fact that Karl Ernst was due to go on his honeymoon. I cant link these sources due to copyright; they are easily found on libgen-dot-rs for review Note – Wikipedia accurate as of 24/04/2023
Ernst Rohm (ER) wished to overthrow the Reichswehr and dispense with the hundred year old Prussian military tradition, replace it with his own SA with himself in command. This was to “continue the revolution” and alienated most Germans
To understand the credibility and scope of what such a revolt would entail, its important we understand a similar revolt just 4 years prior, and how this originated and was resolved by AH. This was the Stennes Revolt of 1930-31.
In AH’s view the SA was a non-professional security apparatus, with strictly political objectives which include providing security for NSDAP rallies, events and campaigns. This revolt sought to overturn the SA’s role, displacing the Prussian military model.
AH issued a decree making the SA subordinate to the NSDAP party, and Stennes was expelled. AH’s peaceful handling of the Stennes revolt was widely acclaimed as model leadership and instilled confidence. However, the same goals would be sought again by ER in 1934.
The specifics of the mobilisation of ER’s planned coup, and initial moves by AH are relayed to us by French historian Jacques Benoist-Menchin. With the coup imminent, AH personally travels to arrest ER before his coup can commence
Gregor Strasser (GS) and brother Otto Strasser (OS) represented the left-leaning wing of the NSDAP, this philosophy has come to be known as National Bolshevism, or Strasserism. He also published the newspaper Nationaler Sozialist, with AH later shutting his paper down for being too extreme and left the NSDAP. In 1931, he led the Stennes Revolt in an advisory position.
After leaving the NSDAP, he created the Black Front movement, which would later attempt another assassination attempt on the Chancellor – with the Jew Helmut Hirsch being the designated assassin.
GS was involved in KVS’s plot to split the NSDAP and was offered Ministry of Economics under KVS as Chancellor, and was fired from the NSDAP for attempting to split the party. In 1933, when the NSDAP attained power OS fled Germany and GS retired from politics. GS name did not appear on the original 7, and it is unclear as to how he was added. Some historians (Rosenberg/Irving) suggest GS was added by Goring, in light of his brother Otto having fled and also a credible threat to National Security.
Ultimately however, it was his role in the coup plot to overthrow the government and assassinate the Chancellor, and inherit the Ministry of National Economy, as the reason for his execution.
Much has been said about the extrajudicial nature of the executions, however it must be noted that President Hindenburg specifically threatened Martial Law if AH could not maintain civility in Germany.
In the final analysis, AH’s resolution of the coup and securing the Nation was roundly supported and admired. In one of his last acts in office, President Hindenburg immediately issued a decree confirming the legality of the NSDAPs actions.
Sources
C.J. Miller – In His Own Words
Leon Degrelle – Hitler Democrat
Jacques Benoist-Menchin - Histoire de l'armée allemande
J.B. Duroselle – Histoire Diplomatique de 1919 a nos jours
Colin Jordan – National Socialism, Vanguard of the Future
John W. Wheeler – The Nemesis Of Power
Erik Larson – In the Garden of Beasts
