On this day - 30 June

The Night of the Long Knives began on June 30th 1934 and ran until July 2nd 1934. In this time, Hitler ordered several people executed and presented these murders as a method to prevent an upcoming coup by the Sturmabteilung (a Nazi paramilitary organisation). The executions allowed him to consolidate his control and power within Germany. It is difficult to determine the exact number of people who died during this, although over 1000 people were arrested.

Hitler decided to present the murders as legally sanctioned as it would be almost impossible to keep them secret with so many prominent German individuals now dead. He pushed a law through on July 3rd 1934 to retroactively sanction the murders across the prior three days as acts of self defense.