The Munich Putsch and the lean years, 1923–29

Question 1

What were the long-term causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 1

• 1918-23 grievances e.g. ‘stab in the back’, reparations and loss of colonies created resentment of WR and support of NSDAP
• 1919-23 NSDAP growing in Munich base- some Bavarian state gov leaders e.g. Gustav von Kahr disliked WG, turned blind eye to SA violence.

Question 2

What were the medium-term causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 2

• 1921-22 heavily influenced by right-wing party in Italy called the Fascists, led by Mussolini
  1922- Mussolini led paramilitary forces in a ‘March on Rome’, forcing democratic gov of Italy to accept him as new leader
  Hitler inspired by this to do the same in Bavaria

Question 3

What were the short-term causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 3

• Hyperinflation peaked Nov 1923 (loaf of bread 100 marks 1922, 200,000 bill marks 1923)
• 1923, French troops entered Ruhr - resistors arrested, imprisoned, deported
• German people bitterly aggrieved, WR seemed week + unable to solve problems

Hitler exploited these grievances to gain power for himself

Question 4

When was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 4

8-9 November 1923

Question 5

How many members did the NSDAP have by 1923?

Answer 5

50,000

Question 6

Who was at the Beer Hall Meeting?

Answer 6

Bavarian government officials
* Main speaker: Gustav von Kahr
* Von Seisser, head of Bavarian police
* Von Lossow, head of German army in Bavaria

Question 7

Hitler burst in with….and said…

Answer 7

600 members of SA, declared he was taking over state of Bavaria and would march on Berlin to overthrow WR. Ludendorff, the famous German general would become head of the German army.

Question 8

Hitler demanded…

Answer 8

at gunpoint that Von Kahr, Von Seisser, and Von Lossow should support him. shook hands in agreement (overpowered)

Question 9

What did Rohm do whilst Hitler and Ludendorff were at the Beer Hall Meeting?

Answer 9

Rohm and SA took over local police and army headquarters

Question 10

Crucially, what did Rohm and the SA not take over?

Answer 10

main army barracks - remained in hands or army officers loyal to government

Question 11

What mistake did Ludendorff make?

Answer 11

released Von Kahr, Von Seisser and Von Lossow

Question 12

Why did Hitler hesitate in marching on the 9th November at 5am?

Answer 12

clear that the 3 Bavarian leaders had withdrawn support and decided to put down any uprising

Question 13

What did Hitler decide to do at 12pm on 9th November?

Answer 13

continue revolt

Question 14

What happened in Hitler’s march?

Answer 14

Hitler, with 1000 SA and 2000 volunteer supporters marched on Munich town centre to declare Hitler the President of Germany

Question 15

What were the response of the townspeople to Hitler’s march?

Answer 15

Hitler had assumed that townspeople and army would support him, but they didn’t. Hitler was outgunned, with only 2000 rifles

Question 16

How did the rebellion end?

Answer 16

group met by state police, someone opened fire, 14 Nazis killed, Ludendorff, Rohm and Streicher arrested.

Question 17

What happened to Hitler immediately after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 17

fled in a car, found hiding at a friend’s house and arrested on the 11th November.

Question 18

Three reasons the Munich Putsch failed:

Answer 18

• Not supported by local townspeople and officials as Hitler had assumed
• Badly organised- Kahr, Lossow and Seisser released by Ludendorff
• ‘Supporters’ not real- were paid with money robbed from 2 local banks owned by Jews- ran when violence began. Also outgunned.

Question 19

Consequences: prison?

Answer 19

Hitler and other Nazi leaders were arrested, put on trial in Feb 1924, found guilty of treason and imprisoned.
Hitler was released from prison after 9 months of a 5-year sentence (Dec 1924)

Question 20

Consequences: ban?

Answer 20

The Nazi Party was banned following the attempted putsch. However, after Hitler was released from prison, he persuaded the president of Bavaria to lift the ban in Feb 1925.

Question 21

Consequences: publicity?

Answer 21

Hitler used the trial to gain national publicity. Before the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, the Nazi Party was not really known across the whole of Germany. Spoke for 3.5 hours and wore his Iron Cross.

Question 22

Consequences: book?

Answer 22

Hitler used his time in prison to write his autobiography, Mein Kampf, which later sold many copies.

Question 23

Consequences: tactics?

Answer 23

Hitler changed tactics. He realised he could not take power by force. Instead, he would campaign in elections to get the Nazis voted into the Reichstag, democratically.

Question 24

Consequences: organisation?

Answer 24

Hitler realised he needed to have complete control over the Nazi Party and the Party would have to reorganise so it could campaign in elections