Using all these sources and your own knowledge, explain why Hitler carried out the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934
Hitler had many reasons to carry out the Night of the Long Knives, and one could say that the reason that Hitler carried out the Night of the Long Knives on June 30th, 1934 was because Ernst Rhm and the SA were becoming too radical as he wanted a 'second revolution', as Source A suggests. One could also say that Rhm was becoming too ambitious and saw a larger position, as Sources B and F suggest. On the other hand, it may be seen as an opportunity to purge potential opponents, or that Hitler was losing influential supporters, as Sources C and D may suggest. These are all potential reasons of why Hitler carried out the Night of the Long Knives, and it also shows how ruthless and brutal Hitler was as a person who purged his own supporters to sort out his own party.
One could argue that the main reason for Hitler to carry out the Night of the Long Knives on June 30th, 1934 was that Ernst Rhm was seeing bigger ambitions in the SA and was becoming too radical. Firstly, in Source A, Rhm comments 'prepared to use force' which implies that he was preparing what he called 'the second revolution', which was to sweep the establishment and take power by force and get to power by himself. Hitler did not like this idea as he was 'helped to power' by Von Hindenburg and Von Papen, who are part of the establishment; he needed the support of the establishment to keep in power. This idea is further supported when he says 'for the sake of our revolution', which indicates that he was planning to combine the SA and the army and carry out this revolution even if it meant that Hitler was against it. This shows that Rhm's priority was to get into a strong position next to Hitler or even higher and make Germany into an army state. However, this source is not completely reliable as it says it was 'commented' by Rhm and not said or announced by him. This means that what he said may have been twisted a bit as it is unlikely he said 'Hitler can't walk over me' which makes him seem extremely confident. Also, it was said to Kurt Ludecke who was part of the Nazi Party and was not even a very important figure in the Nazi Party, which shows this could of easily been twisted as he wanted to appease to Hitler and make Rhm sound a bit cynical in his claims. More evidence of Rhm being seen as too radical and ambitious is in Source B. Rhm sees that the revolution is still not over yet and wants to go through to the very end and end the establishment. This is seen when he says, 'in order to serve in those honorable capacities which nation and fatherland expect of it.'. Rhm says this in a very patriotic and nationalistic tone, which implies that this is his goal and he is going to achieve it no matter what. Also, you can tell that Hitler was plotting to purge them in Source B as he put the SA on 'holiday' to rest them, as he said 'complete relaxation in wh...
