The Night of the Long Knives took place from June 30 to July 2, 1934, with the main purge beginning on June 30, 1934.

Basic timeline

  • The purge is commonly dated to June 30, 1934, when Hitler ordered the first arrests and executions of SA leaders and other political opponents.
  • Many historians describe the event as spanning roughly June 30 to July 2, 1934, as killings and arrests continued over several days.

What the term refers to

  • The phrase “Night of the Long Knives” refers to a political purge in Nazi Germany in which Adolf Hitler used the SS and other forces to eliminate the leadership of the SA and various conservative rivals.
  • This purge helped Hitler consolidate power by reassuring the army and conservative elites while removing internal critics and perceived threats.

Why the date matters today

  • June 30 is often singled out in “on this day” pieces and historical posts as the symbolic start of the Night of the Long Knives each year.
  • Modern commentary and articles still use the 1934 purge as a reference point when discussing authoritarian power grabs and internal political purges.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.