Hitler made few specific assertions regarding any sort of pogrom aimed at Jews prior to the outbreak of the war. However, it would be very hard to suggest that his general attitude was unknown given his frequent references to the uses of violence, "the struggle," and his oft-expressed attitudes that the Jews were the source of Germany's problems. You could argue that many Germans figured/hoped that this would be accomplished by some kind of forced expulsion, but it would be hard to argue that the common German was blissfully unaware of the Nazi regimes anti-Jewish intent. This did not bother enough of them to prevent a Nazi plurality in the Reichstag. I guess many people just simply and naively believed that it would be "hot air."

Beskar:

I would not, were I you, be so cynical regarding the USA's "angels of its better nature." Are we hypocrites, mouthing platitudes while playing the realpolitik game for our own betterment? Yes, on any number of occasions. But do you really WANT a USA that doesn't seek to reach for those platitudes at all and simply becomes another cynical player of the Great Game without anything but self-interest in mind? If we ever ended up developing any real skill for "putting the boot on someone's neck," I shudder to think of the world it would beget, however powerful it would make my nation.