FALSE FLAG OPERATION (1934)—the Night of the Long Knives: Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany, orders Heinrich Himmler, Reichsfuhrer of the exclusive Schutzstaffel (German for “Protection Squad,” a.k.a. SS) to move against Ernst Rohm, Stabschef (German for “Chief of Staff”) of the uncontrollable Sturmabteilung (German for “Storm Battalion,” a.k.a. SA), and rest of the SA leadership.  The SA had been a necessary vehicle by which to intimidate opposition to the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party.  But once in power the SA had come to be seen as a threat by general staff of the Army of Germany, and Rohm had come to be seen as a threat to Hitler’s position. 

       NOTES:

• The Army of Germany had been limited to 100,000 by the Treaty of Versailles, whereas the SA had a membership in excess of 3,000,000.  But a consequence of the purge, SA membership fell-off by almost two-thirds over the course of the next four years.
• Hitler personally murdered Rohm.

       [restored 7/10/2022]