The Reich Chancellery's grand hall was filled before dawn functionaries, generals, press, and foreign diplomats in reserved, nervous rows.
Within the hall.
Radio men prepared transmission to Munich, Vienna, Stuttgart, Hamburg.
In the wings, Joseph Goebbels reviewed a final list of foreign correspondents present Times, Daily Telegraph, Paris Soir, New York Times, and even Prague's own Lidové noviny.
Just before six, the doors opened.
Hitler entered, flanked by aides, the SS, and Ribbentrop.
He wore a dark uniform, its medals carefully chosen, the Iron Cross shining at his breast.
He took the dais with no hesitation.
For a moment, he stood still studying the faces before him.
The hush was total.
Then, his voice rang out soft at first, but growing with every sentence.
"German men and women! Friends of the Reich, of Europe, and of peace today, I stand before you, before the eyes of the world, with a heart that is heavy, but with a will that is unbreakable."
