 Röhm then led his force of nearly 2,000 men to the War Ministry, which they occupied for sixteen hours.Once in control of the "Reichswehr" headquarters, Röhm awaited news, barricaded inside.The subsequent march into the city center led by Hitler, Hermann Göring, and General Erich Ludendorff with banners flying high, was ostensibly undertaken to "free" Röhm and his forces.