night of the long knives

Etymology
, name for the 1934 in which the Nazis murdered various opponents. Reinforced by earlier English uses of the motif of long knives, as in phrases like the  (a pseudohistorical massacre of Celts by Anglo-Saxons), used since at least the 1800s.

Noun

 * 1) A purge, in which opponents of a regime or political party are killed or removed.

Alternative forms

 * night of long knives, Night of Long Knives
 * Night of the Long Knives

Translations

 * German: Nacht der langen Messer
 * Polish: noc długich noży