June 30, 1934 – The Night of the Long Knives, or Operation Hummingbird, a German Nazi liquidation of political rivals takes place.  Most of the executions were aimed at members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) including their leader Ernst Rohm who Nazi party leader Adolph Hitler saw as direct threats to his power. 

At least 85 people were killed by the Schutzstaffel (SS) and Gestapo in the purge which strengthened and solidified Hitler’s position within the Reichswehr.