blood purge

American  

noun

1. the mass execution, especially by a government, of persons considered guilty of treason or sedition.

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Etymology

Origin of blood purge

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Following the recent work of Rainer Orth, Hett says that the Night of the Long Knives, the blood purge of June 1934, was directed mainly against these right-wing opponents.

From New York Times

The picture's theme is the rise of Na tional Socialism from the gutter to the June 1934 Blood Purge.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bruning resigned in 1932, then fled Germany during the 1934 "blood purge" and later taught at Harvard.

From Time Magazine Archive

A new treatment for the relief of severe bronchial asthma, announced last fortnight, makes use of a sensational blood purge.

From Time Magazine Archive

He protested the court-martial of the Japanese General Homma, who ordered the Bataan death march, as no trial at all but a "revengeful blood purge."

From Time Magazine Archive