The Beer Hall PutschThe Beer Hall Putsch

To learn about the Beer Hall PutschTo learn about the Beer Hall Putsch To understand why the Beer Hall To understand why the Beer Hall

Putsch failedPutsch failed

Hitler Attempts RevolutionHitler Attempts Revolution

Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed to seize power because the Weimar to seize power because the Weimar Republic was too weak to rule GermanyRepublic was too weak to rule Germany

Many prominent Germans held similar Many prominent Germans held similar beliefs, particularly those from the old beliefs, particularly those from the old military elite – including Hindenburgmilitary elite – including Hindenburg

The Communists (KPD) had already tried The Communists (KPD) had already tried to seize power but failed in the Kapp to seize power but failed in the Kapp PutschPutsch

Draw a line across the Draw a line across the centre of two pagescentre of two pages

You are going to create a timeline You are going to create a timeline of the Beer Hall Putschof the Beer Hall Putsch

The Nazi Party in BavariaThe Nazi Party in Bavaria By 1923, many right wing parties had gravitated to By 1923, many right wing parties had gravitated to

southern Germany and primarily Bavaria. Here there southern Germany and primarily Bavaria. Here there were geographically as far away from Berlin without were geographically as far away from Berlin without totally isolating themselves from the German people. totally isolating themselves from the German people. Their headquarters was essentially Munich.Their headquarters was essentially Munich.

One such group was the fledgling Nazi Party. Lead by One such group was the fledgling Nazi Party. Lead by Adolf Hitler it had about 35,000 members by 1923. Adolf Hitler it had about 35,000 members by 1923. Though this figure appears low in the whole scheme of Though this figure appears low in the whole scheme of German politics (in the 1920 election the Nazis had not German politics (in the 1920 election the Nazis had not got one seat in the Reichstag), there were only about 40 got one seat in the Reichstag), there were only about 40 members of the Nazi Party in 1920, so its growth rate members of the Nazi Party in 1920, so its growth rate was relatively quick. However, nationally, the Nazis Party was relatively quick. However, nationally, the Nazis Party was just one of a number of loud right-wing parties.was just one of a number of loud right-wing parties.

A Beer Hall In MunichA Beer Hall In Munich On November 8th and 9th1923, Hitler used the anger felt On November 8th and 9th1923, Hitler used the anger felt

against the Berlin government in Bavaria to attempt an against the Berlin government in Bavaria to attempt an overthrow of the regional government in Munich in overthrow of the regional government in Munich in prelude to the take-over of the national government. This prelude to the take-over of the national government. This incident is generally known as the Beer Hall Putsch. incident is generally known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

On November 8th 1923, the Bavarian Prime Minister, On November 8th 1923, the Bavarian Prime Minister, Gustav Kahr, was addressing a meeting of around 3000 Gustav Kahr, was addressing a meeting of around 3000 businessmen at a beer hall in Munich. Kahr was joined businessmen at a beer hall in Munich. Kahr was joined by some of the most senior men in Bavarian politics by some of the most senior men in Bavarian politics including Seisser, Bavaria’s police chief, and Lossow, including Seisser, Bavaria’s police chief, and Lossow, the local army commander. the local army commander.

Taking CaptivesTaking Captives Hitler and 600 of his Stormtroopers (the SA) Hitler and 600 of his Stormtroopers (the SA)

went into the meeting from the back of the hall. went into the meeting from the back of the hall. These SA men, lead by Ernst Rohm, lined the These SA men, lead by Ernst Rohm, lined the sides of the hall in an attempt to intimidate those sides of the hall in an attempt to intimidate those in the beer hall. in the beer hall.

Kahr, Lossow and Seisser were taken into a side Kahr, Lossow and Seisser were taken into a side room. Here, threatened by guns, Kahr is said to room. Here, threatened by guns, Kahr is said to have agreed to support Hitler in his attempt to have agreed to support Hitler in his attempt to take-over the government in Berlin. Hitler take-over the government in Berlin. Hitler promised Kahr that he would get a key position promised Kahr that he would get a key position in the new national government and Lossow was in the new national government and Lossow was promised a senior post in the German Army. promised a senior post in the German Army.

IntimidationIntimidation

When Hitler did return to the main hall, it When Hitler did return to the main hall, it was in such disarray that he fired a shot was in such disarray that he fired a shot from his pistol into the ceiling and from his pistol into the ceiling and threatened to put a machine gun in a threatened to put a machine gun in a gallery if the people in the hall did not gallery if the people in the hall did not settle so that they could hear him. settle so that they could hear him.

LudendorffLudendorff Luderndorff had retired to Bavaria after the war and had Luderndorff had retired to Bavaria after the war and had

been taken in by the early rhetoric of Hitler. been taken in by the early rhetoric of Hitler. Luderndorff was pale and ashen faced when he spoke to Luderndorff was pale and ashen faced when he spoke to

the audience about the "great national cause" and that the audience about the "great national cause" and that this was because he was so angered by what Hitler had this was because he was so angered by what Hitler had done. Luderndorff’s demeanour and facial appearance is done. Luderndorff’s demeanour and facial appearance is also supported by Muller who said the same at Hitler’s also supported by Muller who said the same at Hitler’s trial.trial.

Once it became clear that Luderndorff supported Hitler, it Once it became clear that Luderndorff supported Hitler, it seems that Kahr then agreed to publicly declare his seems that Kahr then agreed to publicly declare his support for Hitler. Once this happened the meeting support for Hitler. Once this happened the meeting started to break-up and the SA allowed people to leavestarted to break-up and the SA allowed people to leave

The Streets of MunichThe Streets of Munich Once the beer hall meeting was over, Hitler started to Once the beer hall meeting was over, Hitler started to

plan his take-over of Munich. But Hitler had made one plan his take-over of Munich. But Hitler had made one major error. He had let Kahr and his colleagues go. They major error. He had let Kahr and his colleagues go. They reported what had happened to Berlin and the central reported what had happened to Berlin and the central government ordered that the army and police should put government ordered that the army and police should put down the Nazis once they started their march. After his down the Nazis once they started their march. After his experience in the beer hall, Kahr was in no mood to experience in the beer hall, Kahr was in no mood to disagree.disagree.

On November 9th, Hitler started his march with his On November 9th, Hitler started his march with his followers. By the morning he knew that the army and followers. By the morning he knew that the army and police had been alerted that the Nazis would try to take police had been alerted that the Nazis would try to take over vital buildings in Munich.over vital buildings in Munich.

FailureFailure Hitler started the march to the centre of Munich with Hitler started the march to the centre of Munich with

3000 men. At the centre of the city they were faced by 3000 men. At the centre of the city they were faced by 100 armed police and soldiers who blocked them from 100 armed police and soldiers who blocked them from going down a narrow street called the Residenzstrasse. going down a narrow street called the Residenzstrasse. What happened next is not clear but shots were fired. What happened next is not clear but shots were fired. The firing continued for just one minute but in that time The firing continued for just one minute but in that time sixteen Nazis and three policemen were killed.sixteen Nazis and three policemen were killed.

Hitler had a dislocated shoulder. Some say this is was Hitler had a dislocated shoulder. Some say this is was caused by his attempts to seek cover once the firing caused by his attempts to seek cover once the firing started. Hitler, (and the official biography of Hitler started. Hitler, (and the official biography of Hitler published after 1933) claimed that it was because he published after 1933) claimed that it was because he had caught a colleague as he fell who had been mortally had caught a colleague as he fell who had been mortally wounded and the stress on his shoulder had dislocated wounded and the stress on his shoulder had dislocated it.it.