Just over a month later, the true short-term significance of the Night of the Long Knives became even more apparent given Hitler's smooth takeover of full official leadership when Hindenburg died. A newspaper source describes how within hours, Hitler "hastened back to Berlin to declare the following law: The office of President will be combined with that of Chancellor. The existing authority of the Reich President will be transferred to the Führer, Adolf Hitler 16." Being of a reflective style rather than a purely factual article, its nature allows for the opinion of the writer to influence what they say. Originating from the Springfield Union on August 2nd 1934, we can infer that its time stamp makes it reliable to an extent, but its interpretation
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This shows the Night’s further significance in giving those outside Germany more evidence to rightly suspect that Hitler as the ‘probable successor’ would "run a dictatorship" 18 without much opposition.
In support of the source, Clare refers to Hindenburg himself being compelled to write “a letter of approval to Hitler expressing relief" 19 over the Night of the Long Knives in which he praised him "for his courage in saving the nation" 20. It implies that he had changed his stance from previously "distrusting his noisy aggressiveness" 21 as the historian Dorpalen puts it, and proves that he thought Hitler was worthy of commendation following the Night’s significant events.
Conversely, some would argue that the Night of the Long Knives was insignificant in relation to these developments; rather the Enabling Act and decision to appoint Hitler as Chancellor allowed him to get to this stage. The risk of the SA could have been dealt with later as their leader Rohm wanted to collaborate with not overthrow Hitler's Nazis, having been old friends and allies during the party's beginnings. Regarding Hindenburg's favourable words to Hitler, he is reported to have expressed fears over the Nazis to his confidant Papen that "things were going badly" 22 so it could be argued that he was being insincere. Others even posit that these complimentary references to Hitler
This shows the Night’s further significance in giving those outside Germany more evidence to rightly suspect that Hitler as the ‘probable successor’ would "run a dictatorship" 18 without much opposition.
In support of the source, Clare refers to Hindenburg himself being compelled to write “a letter of approval to Hitler expressing relief" 19 over the Night of the Long Knives in which he praised him "for his courage in saving the nation" 20. It implies that he had changed his stance from previously "distrusting his noisy aggressiveness" 21 as the historian Dorpalen puts it, and proves that he thought Hitler was worthy of commendation following the Night’s significant events.
Conversely, some would argue that the Night of the Long Knives was insignificant in relation to these developments; rather the Enabling Act and decision to appoint Hitler as Chancellor allowed him to get to this stage. The risk of the SA could have been dealt with later as their leader Rohm wanted to collaborate with not overthrow Hitler's Nazis, having been old friends and allies during the party's beginnings. Regarding Hindenburg's favourable words to Hitler, he is reported to have expressed fears over the Nazis to his confidant Papen that "things were going badly" 22 so it could be argued that he was being insincere. Others even posit that these complimentary references to Hitler