Read "Address to the Reichstag Regarding the Purges of the Night of the Long Knives" by Adolf Hitler online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
July 13th, 1934.
Much has been made of the supposed ideological differences that led to the purges of the Night of the Long Knives, but the reality is that they were motivated much more by the contingencies of Realpolitik and personal grievances. This mistaken view is based on a kernel of truth, but more so on politically-motivated reasoning, misunderstanding, overemphasis on the importance of ideology, and a corresponding under-emphasis on considerations of Realpolitik.