[In the following favorable review of The Night of Long Knives, O'Brien discusses Gallo's use of historical documentation as a basis for understanding why Hitler liquidated several powerful allies.]

"The Führer himself is law and justice." It must be true that the will of the sovereign has the force of law, even if the sovereign is tyrant, or madman, or both. The above quotation is part of the writings of the Nazi jurist, Karl Schmitt, in justification of the wave of murder and assassination by which Hitler broke the power of the SA, Sturmabteilung, "Brown Shirts," People's Militia, or whatever one may care to call them. The action took place over the week end of June 30, and July 1 and 2, 1934.

In addition to … [The Night of Long Knives], Max Gallo is author of Robespierre, the Incorruptible. Long Knives was first published in France, and this edition is a translation from the French by Lily Emmet. It is characterized by the author as a historical narrative, source material for it being the Institute of Contemporary History in Munich, trial documents, newspapers, memoirs, historical studies, interviews, and trips to the scenes of the events.

The Brown Shirts were the bully boys who brought Hitler to power by their violent quelling of opposition to the Nazi party. With Hitler Chancellor under Hindenburg, they became an embarrassment, particularly because these ruffianly braggarts worked for a revolution against the conservative elements who controlled Germany: industrialists, monarchists, and aristocrats. The genius of Hitler realized that he could never attain to the power he craved without the support of these conservative elements.

"The seething brew of ambition, intrigue, and rivalry" which surrounded Hitler consisted of the Wehrmacht, the SS, and the Gestapo, in addition to the SA. Representing these elements were four men: Goering of the Wehrmacht, Heydrich of the SS, Himmler of the Gestapo … and Ernest Roehm, leader of the SA.

It was not too much of a trick for Himmler to convince Hitler of Roehm's disloyalty. Himmler played up every hint of it, warned Hitler of an apparent SA coup, stressed the notorious homosexuality of Roehm and SA leaders, and thus succeeded in presenting to Hitler the opportunity greatly to consolidate his power. Hitler knew the Army despised the SA. Rumor had it that he had agreed to eliminate Roehm and break the power of the SA in exchange for Army support. Hindenburg was dying. Hitler knew he would have to step into his place or risk falling from power.

The tragedy for Hitler was that Roehm was and always had been Hitler's loyal friend, who had manned the barricades for him. For Hitler to sacrifice Roehm must have meant to everyone who could learn the circumstances that no one could be safe from the danger of Hitler's lust for power. There were five years to go before the march on Poland, and the diplomatic adventuring that led to it. The "Night of Long Knives" had much to do with setting the inexorable course.

The writing is vivid and suspenseful, with background descriptions of the beautiful German countryside. There are eighteen pages of illustrations, appendices of extracts of Hitler's and Roehm's speeches, and bibliography.