Night of the Long Knives
SS troops storm the Hotel Hanselbauer in Bad Wiessee, arresting and executing SA leaders, including Ernst Röhm, in a violent purge orchestrated by Hitler to consolidate his power.
Setting
Hotel Hanselbauer, a modest Bavarian-style hotel in the lakeside town of Bad Wiessee. The scene is set in the dimly lit hallway and guest rooms, where SA leaders have been staying. The wooden floors creak underfoot, and the walls are lined with simple Bavarian folk art.
Characters
Ernst Röhm
primary
A burly, middle-aged man with a thick neck and a scarred face, his military bearing evident even in disarray. His close-cropped hair is mussed from sleep, and his pale blue eyes are bloodshot from recent drinking. The distinctive dueling scars on his left cheek mark him as a veteran of student fencing societies.
SS Officer
primary
A tall, lean man in his late 30s with sharp, angular features and cold, piercing blue eyes. His posture is rigid, reflecting his military training, and his movements are precise and calculated. His short, blond hair is neatly combed, and his face bears a thin, barely noticeable scar along his right cheekbone.
SA Lieutenant
secondary
A young, athletically built man in his late 20s with close-cropped blonde hair and sharp features. His face is flushed with adrenaline, and a thin scar runs along his left cheekbone from a past altercation. His hands are calloused, betraying his military training.
Hotel Maid
background
A young woman in her early 20s, slight of build with pale skin and dark circles under her eyes from long hours of work. Her mousy brown hair is pulled back into a tight bun under her maid's cap, with a few loose strands framing her frightened face. Her hands are rough from labor, clutching a cleaning rag like a lifeline.
Dialog
SS Officer
Ernst Röhm. By order of the Führer, you are under arrest.
Ernst Röhm
Arrest? This is... this is some mistake! Where is Adolf?
SS Officer
No mistake. The SA's treason ends tonight.
Ernst Röhm
Treason? Mein men? You SS bastards—
SS Officer
Disarm him. If he resists, shoot him.
Ernst Röhm
So this is how it ends? Not at the front—betrayed in some damned hotel?
SS Officer
It ends as it must. Take him.