This incident occurred in the midst of tension between the German military and sa. Rema hopes that his troops can be absorbed by the new German armed forces, Vermacht. Nevertheless, conservative generals strongly oppose this.
Hitler, who really needs military support to realize his expansionist ambitions, decided to sacrifice Rem and S.A., and not to encounter resistance from the armed forces.
These cruel actions really receive support from the military. At that time, the Minister of Defense of Germany, Werner von Blomberg, praised Hitler’s efficiency and firmness in the “protection” of the state from internal threats.
Soon after the bloody event, Hitler tried to expand the influence of Germany, aiming at Austria. On July 25, 1934, the Austrian Nazis, with the support of Berlin, carried out a revolution and killed the Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss.
But the coup failed, and international answers – especially from Italy under Mussolini – were very difficult. Four divisions of the Italian army were immediately transferred to the border to show the rejection of the expansionist ambitions of Germany.
