The Night of the Long Knives was a purge ordered by Adolf Hitler to eliminate the SA leadership, revealing the Nazi leadership's perception of being above the law.
The SA, created in 1921, served various purposes from protecting party meetings to using violence against political rivals, embodying the paramilitary nature of Hitler's rise.
Hitler's fear of the SA's growing power led him to order a purge that targeted not only SA leaders but also political enemies, ensuring his grip on power.
The SA's violent tactics and the need for army support ultimately resulted in Nazi leadership defining their authority beyond legal boundaries during the Night of the Long Knives.
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