The Röhm scandal was the public disclosure of the homosexuality of Nazi politician Ernst Röhm (pictured) by the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). It began in April 1931, when the SPD newspaper Münchener Post published a series of front-page stories inaccurately portraying the Nazi Party as dominated by homosexuals. During the 1932 German presidential election, the SPD released a pamphlet edited by the ex-Nazi Helmuth Klotz with letters in which Röhm had discussed his homosexuality. On 12 May 1932, Klotz was beaten by Nazi deputies in the Reichstag building in revenge for his publication of the pamphlet, bringing the matter to national attention, and making Röhm the world's first openly gay politician. The Nazis' electoral performance was not affected by the scandal. Hitler defended Röhm, but had him murdered in 1934, citing both his homosexuality and alleged treachery. This purge began the systematic persecution of homosexual men in Nazi Germany.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%B6hm_scandal

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1279:

The Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order suffered a great loss when 71 knights died in the Battle of Aizkraukle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aizkraukle

1824:

The First Anglo-Burmese War, the longest and most expensive war in British Indian history, began. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Burmese_War

1966:

BOAC Flight 911 disintegrated and crashed near Mount Fuji shortly after departure from Tokyo International Airport, killing all 113 passengers and 11 crew members on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOAC_Flight_911

1975:

Computer hobbyists in Silicon Valley held the first meeting of the Homebrew Computer Club (founder pictured), whose members went on to have great influence on the development of the personal computer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_Computer_Club

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

dekulakize: (transitive, historical) Usually with reference to the Soviet Union and communist Eastern Europe: to dispossess (a kulak, that is, a prosperous peasant) of his or her property and/or rights. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dekulakize

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Of all the consequences of Moscow’s unprovoked attack, one of the most unexpected is the spark it has lit in people around the world who have come out to demonstrate for freedom, for the rights of Ukrainians. That includes valiant individuals in places where protesting the Kremlin’s war means risking arrest, beatings, or worse, as thousands of Russians and Belarusians have done. For years, we’ve seen the dangerous tide rolling back democracy and human rights and undercutting the rules-based order, fueled in no small part by Moscow. With this brutal invasion, we, our European allies and partners, and people everywhere are being reminded of just how much is at stake. Now, we see the tide of democracy rising to the moment.   --Antony Blinken https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Antony_Blinken