ABSTRACT
IT is as well to pause in the historical account here, at the moment of Hitler’s accession to power, and to try and picture what expectations were dominant among the mass of his supporters who marched in an endless troop past the window in the Wilhelmstrasse where their Leader received their homage. All felt a great destiny hovering near. The ups and downs of the negotiations with Papen and the reactionary interests had injured Hitler’s reputation and lost him supporters, temporarily; the actual governmental alliance gave cause for concern. But Hitler had been explicit in his book about the tortuous methods of the politician. He had come to power, no matter by what means. He had behind him the organised masses of his Storm Troops, two or three hundred thousand of them. They were waiting for his programme, for his command.
