even more troubling, the strategy of taking power by force was advocated by stennes in february articles published in "der angriff". this was disturbing to the nazi leadership as it contravened hitler's strategy of gaining power through constitutional means only and forswearing violence as a means to power. and hitler had very publicly announced his "reliance on legality only" in the leipzig trial of three young "reichswehr" officers for "treasonous activities" in september 1930. this was in perfect timing for the fall elections and with an eye towards the attendant propaganda value, and he had sworn on the witness stand and under oath that the party had forsaken violent and illegal means as a path to power.