How to Write an A-Star Essay on the Significance of the Night of the Long Knives

In the early hours of 30th June 1934, the Nazi regime turned on itself. In a brutal, nationwide purge known as the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler used his elite SS to murder the leadership of his own stormtroopers, the SA, including its leader and his old comrade, Ernst Röhm. This was not a battle against an external enemy; this was an internal cleansing, a settling of scores that sent a terrifying message across Germany.

But what was the real significance of this bloody weekend? It was much more than just a gangland-style killing. The Night of the Long Knives was a pivotal turning point in the nature of the Nazi state.

To write a top-grade essay on this topic, you must act as a political analyst, explaining how this event eliminated Hitler’s last internal rivals, won him the loyalty of the one group that could stop him, and established murder as a legitimate tool of government.

Step 1: Understand the AQA Question

The key word here is “significance.” The examiners do not want a gruesome, blow-by-blow account of the murders. They want you to analyse the consequences. Why did this event matter? How did it change things? What did it mean for Hitler’s power and the future of Germany?

Potential AQA-style questions include:

• Explain the significance of the Night of the Long Knives. (12 marks)
• The main consequence of the Night of the Long Knives was that it secured the loyalty of the German Army. How far do you agree with this statement? (16 marks + 4 SPaG)
• Which of the following was more important in establishing the Nazi dictatorship: the Enabling Act or the Night of the Long Knives? Explain your answer. (12 marks)

A top-grade answer will focus on the political outcomes of the purge, explaining how it consolidated Hitler’s power in three crucial ways.

Step 2: The Core Knowledge You Must Discuss

Your essay must first briefly explain why the purge happened, before analysing its profound consequences.

Part 1: The Causes – A Looming Confrontation

By 1934, Hitler faced a serious problem. The SA, who had helped him get to power, were becoming a dangerous liability.

• Röhm and the SA’s Ambition: The SA had over 3 million members and was led by Ernst Röhm. Röhm was a radical who wanted a “second revolution.” He wanted to merge the SA with the much smaller, professional German Army (Reichswehr) and make himself the commander. This would have given him control of all military forces in Germany.
• The Army’s Fear: The professional army leaders despised the SA as an undisciplined mob of “brown scum.” They were terrified of Röhm’s plan and made it clear to Hitler that they would not stand for it.
• Hitler’s Choice: Hitler needed the army. They were the only institution in Germany with the power to remove him. The ailing President Hindenburg was close to death, and Hitler needed the army’s support to succeed him. He was forced to choose between his old revolutionary comrades in the SA and the powerful, conservative generals of the army. He chose the army.

Part 2: The Consequences – The Three Pillars of Significance

The purge had three immediate and profound consequences that cemented Hitler’s dictatorship.

• Consequence 1: It Secured the Loyalty of the German Army:
  • The Impact: This is the single most important consequence. By eliminating Röhm and breaking the power of the SA, Hitler removed the army’s greatest rival. The army generals were hugely grateful and relieved. When President Hindenburg died just over a month later (2nd August 1934), the army showed its gratitude. In a step that was not required by law, the entire army swore a personal oath of unconditional allegiance not to Germany, but directly to Adolf Hitler as their Führer.
  • Significance: This oath meant the last group that could have launched a coup against Hitler was now bound to him personally. His power was now absolute and unchallengeable.
• Consequence 2: It Established Murder as a Political Tool and the Führer as Above the Law:
  • The Impact: There were no trials for the hundreds of people murdered. Hitler simply announced in the Reichstag that in the moment of crisis, he had acted as the “supreme judge of the German people.” The murders were then retroactively declared legal.
  • Significance: This established a terrifying new reality in Germany. The rule of law was dead. Justice was whatever the Führer said it was. It sent a clear message to everyone in Germany, including within the Nazi Party itself, that any opposition or disobedience would be met not with imprisonment, but with death.
• Consequence 3: It Marked the Rise of the SS and the Police State:
  • The Impact: The SA was neutered. Its power was broken, and it was reduced to a ceremonial role. The real winners of the purge were Heinrich Himmler and his black-shirted SS. Having proven their absolute loyalty and ruthless efficiency in carrying out the murders, the SS was now rewarded.
  • Significance: The SS was now free to become the main instrument of terror and control in the Nazi state. It became an independent organisation, responsible for running the concentration camp system, the Gestapo (secret police), and enforcing Nazi ideology. The Night of the Long Knives was the event that unleashed the SS on Germany.

Step 3: How to Structure Your A-Star Essay

Organise your points to explain the clear consequences of the event.

The Introduction

Your opening paragraph should state your argument clearly.

1. Set the scene: the brutal internal purge of June 1934.
2. State your main argument (your thesis) about its significance as a turning point.
3. Outline the key consequences (army loyalty, rule by terror, rise of the SS) you will discuss.

Example Introduction:

The Night of the Long Knives in June 1934 was a brutal and decisive moment in the consolidation of Hitler’s power. In a ruthless purge, Hitler eliminated the leadership of the SA, his own paramilitary wing, and settled old political scores. This essay will argue that the significance of this event was immense and threefold. Firstly, and most importantly, it secured the unconditional loyalty of the German Army, the one institution that could have removed him. Secondly, it established murder as a legitimate tool of government, placing Hitler above the law. Finally, it unleashed the SS as the primary instrument of terror, paving the way for the creation of a total police state.

The Main Body Paragraphs (PEEL Structure)

Use the PEEL structure to analyse each consequence.

• Point: Start with a sentence stating the significant consequence you are discussing.
• Evidence: Provide specific knowledge (e.g., the army’s oath, “supreme judge,” rise of the SS).
• Explain: Explain why this was so significant. How did it change the nature of Hitler’s rule?
• Link: Link your point back to the main question about the significance of the event.

Example PEEL Paragraph:

(Point) The foremost significance of the Night of the Long Knives was that it neutralised the last independent source of power in Germany and secured the absolute loyalty of the army. (Evidence) By murdering Ernst Röhm and crushing the SA, Hitler removed the army’s greatest rival. In gratitude, when Hindenburg died a month later, the entire officer corps swore a personal oath of allegiance directly to Hitler as their Führer. (Explanation) The significance of this cannot be overstated. The army had been the one institution that could have staged a coup to remove Hitler from power. By binding them to him with this personal oath, Hitler ensured their obedience and eliminated the final check on his authority. His dictatorship was now militarily secure from within. (Link) Therefore, the purge was a masterstroke of political calculation, sacrificing his old comrades to win over the traditional elites, thereby making his power unchallengeable.

The Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarise your argument and offer a final, powerful thought.

1. Recap the main areas of significance.
2. Reiterate your main thesis in a fresh way.
3. Finish with a “big picture” statement about what the event revealed.

Example Conclusion:

In conclusion, the significance of the Night of the Long Knives was profound. It was far more than a mere power struggle; it was the moment the Nazi regime defined its ultimate character. By winning the army’s loyalty, Hitler secured his absolute power. By legalising murder, he placed himself above the law of the state. And by empowering the SS, he created the engine of the terror state to come. The Night of the Long Knives was the moment Hitler not only eliminated his enemies but also demonstrated to the entire German population that there were no limits to his power and no lengths to which he would not go to keep it.

Step 4: Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Just a Narrative: The biggest mistake is to simply tell the story of the murders. The question is about significance and consequences. Focus on the “so what?”
• Forgetting the Army’s Oath: The personal oath of loyalty is the single most important outcome. You must explain its importance in your answer.
• Seeing it as Just About the SA: Remember to mention the other victims, like von Schleicher. This shows it was a broader purge to eliminate anyone who could be a potential rival, demonstrating Hitler’s paranoia and ruthlessness.

By focusing on the critical consequences of the purge, you can write a sophisticated and compelling essay that is sure to achieve a top grade.

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