Nacht der langen Messer

German

Etymology

Literally, “night of the long knives”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnaxt dɛɐ̯ ˌlaŋn̩ ˈmɛsɐ/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Nacht der langen Messer f (genitive Nacht der langen Messer, plural Nacht der langen Messeres or Nacht der langen Messers)

1. (historical, Nazism) Night of the Long Knives (purge that took place in Nazi Germany from June 30 to July 2, 1934)

   Synonym: Röhm-Putsch

2. (politics) night of the long knives (purge in which opponents of a regime or political party are killed or removed)

Descendants

• → English: night of the long knives (calque)
• → Polish: noc długich noży (calque)

Further reading

• “Nacht der langen Messer” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon