91 years ago today, on June 30, 1934 (May 19, 1934 in the lunar calendar), Hitler purged the stormtroopers. Two weeks before the "bloody purge", Hitler visited Rome and met for his first time with Mussolini on June 30, 1934. Some call it the "bloody cleansing", others call it the "night of the sword." In Germany and Prussia, Adolf Hitler acted quickly and ruthlessly to quell what he called a looming storm-led rebellion. In the early morning of the 30th, Hitler flew from Bonn to Munich to deal with Captain Ernst Rohm, the leader of the stormtroopers. Rom and one of his top aides were reportedly caught in the bedroom of his country house. He did not resist. He was given the option to commit suicide, but he refused, and he was later executed in a prison in Munich. Berlin stormtroopers leader Karl Ernst was found in a house not far from Bremen. He may have been killed while trying to escape, or executed after being flown to Berlin. The Gestapo under the command of Prussian Governor Herman Goring said they would arrest former Prime Minister Kurt van Schleicher at his home not far from Potsdam. Police said the couple were both shot dead after resisting arrest. Other stormtroopers officers have also been executed. Hitler said the rebels were threatening to take action against him and were backed by an unnamed third force. This force is likely to be Russia. No matter how threatened, Hitler once again consolidated his power.