The Night of the Long Knives: On This Day. 2.7.1935

The History Book Buffs · Jul 2, 2026 · 29m

Hitler's most dangerous enemies weren't outside the Nazi Party—they were inside it.

In this episode, historian Roger Moorhouse takes us inside the dramatic events of 30 June–2 July 1934, when Hitler unleashed a wave of assassinations against his own comrades in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives. Except it wasn't just one night. It was a murderous long weekend that cemented his dictatorship and changed the course of history.

Why did Hitler betray Ernst Röhm, one of his oldest allies? How did the SA become a threat to the regime it helped create? And what role did the army…