BACKGROUND
• In November 1923 Hitler saw HISHIS chance to start a revolution! Germany was very unstable:
1. Invasion of the Ruhr2. Hyperinflation3. Weimar democratic
government was very unpopular
4. Germany was humiliated
• Hitler’s PutschPutsch (or revolution) would be an absolute fiasco and failure
• However from this failure Hitler would emerge stronger and beginning his road to REAL absolute power.
THE PLAN • Hitler knew the time was
right for a revolution.
• He got together a large group of unemployed men and former soldiers known as the Storm TroopersStorm Troopers
or SASA. They began attacking other political groups – like Communists.
• Hitler plotted with the nationalist leader of
Bavaria – Von Kahr as well as War hero General Ludendorff to take over Munich in a revolution.
• BUT as Hitler waits with 3,000 troops Von
Kahr calls off the revolution
• Hitler is furious and on the 8th November 1923 he bursts into a local Munich Beer hall and forces Von Kahr to agree to revolution-
• Then he lets him go!
FAILUREFAILURE• Hitler and his troops
begin to march into Munich to seize power
• Kahr however has called out the police and army
• The army fire on the SA killing 16. Hitler is arrested later and put on trial for TREASON.
RESULT• The Munich Putsch was a FAILURE.1. It was badly organised and poorly
planned. 2. The Nazis appeared to have been
humiliated3. The Nazi party was banned and
Hitler prevented from public speaking until 1927.
BUT• The Munich Putsch was also a
strange BOOST to Hitler:1. The TRIAL was a massive publicity
boost for the Nazis – Hitler became famous across Germany
2. Many Germans agreed with his views
3. Hitler also had sympathy from the German judges who gave him only a small prison sentence in Landsberg prison
BUT4. Hitler used his time in Prison to
write a book of his political ideas called ‘Mein Kampf’ (my struggle) It was a bestseller and his ideas became widely known.
Four and a Half Years of Struggle against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice
Finally..
• Hitler realised from the experience that he could only come to power through democratic means (not revolution)
• He would use Weimar democracy to destroy itself! – He organised Propaganda (advertising) campaigns.– He started the Hitler Youth– Local Nazi party branches set up– The SS was set up as his personal bodyguard.