Original taken from mgsupgs in Beer Hall Putsch.

90 years ago the Beer Hall Putsch took place in Germany. In Soviet historiography, it was customary to give it a certain touch of burlesque, but the consequences of this event were more than serious... So: on November 9, 1923, Adolf Hitler and his supporters attempted a coup in Munich. The events began in the premises of a huge beer hall - the Munich "Bürgerbraukeller", where a speech was given by member of the Bavarian government Gustav von Kahr and local high-ranking officials gathered. Therefore, this uprising went down in history as the “beer hall putsch.”

The speech was suppressed, but it glorified Hitler and became his entry into big politics. All German newspapers wrote about the leader of the German nationalists, his portraits were published in weeklies. The popularity of the NSDAP has grown significantly. Hitler received a minimum sentence for attempting a coup - 5 years, but he was actually in prison for only eight months, having written his work “My Struggle” while imprisoned. Already in 1933, Hitler came to power in a completely legal way; his party received a majority of votes in the elections to the Reichstag, which allowed him to head the government.

By the autumn of 1923, Germany was in a permanent crisis. During this period, it was exacerbated by the occupation of the Ruhr region by French-Belgian troops. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 obligated Germany to pay reparations to the victorious powers. Paris insisted on unconditional implementation of the provisions of the treaty and did not compromise, defending the principle that “the Germans must pay for everything.” When there were delays in reparations, French troops entered unoccupied German territories several times. In 1922, due to the deteriorating economic situation in Germany, the Allies abandoned cash payments, replacing them with supplies of goods (steel, coal, wood, etc.). In January 1923, accusing Berlin of deliberately delaying supplies, Paris sent troops into the Ruhr region. Moreover, Paris began to achieve the assignment of a status to the Rhineland and the Ruhr, similar to the status of the Saar region, where belonging to the Weimar Republic was only formal, and real power was in the hands of the French. This caused a wave of anger in Germany. The government called on the population for “passive resistance.” The payment of reparations was finally curtailed, the bureaucracy, industry and transport were swept by a general strike. There were also attacks on the invaders, and the French responded with punitive raids. Dozens of people died.

The Ruhr crisis and the humiliation of Germany, economic difficulties, hyperinflation caused the growth of left and right radical sentiments. At the same time, separatist sentiments intensified. The separatists hoped that secession from the lands from the Weimar Republic would help ease the burden of reparation payments or even abandon them altogether, and get out of the economic crisis. Thus, the right-wing separatist conservatives who were in power in Bavaria wanted to separate their land from the republic and restore the pre-revolutionary Bavarian Wittelsbach monarchy. This family ruled Bavaria from the end of the 12th century until the end of the First World War. The leader of the right and the head of the government of Bavaria, Gustav von Kar, introduced a state of emergency in Bavaria and refused to comply with a number of instructions from the Social Democratic government in Berlin.

Beer house "Bürgerbraukeller"

The Nazis entered into a tactical alliance with the Bavarian separatists. They planned to take advantage of separatist sentiments in Bavaria to make themselves known on a German scale. Hitler was inspired by the example of Mussolini's March on Rome on October 27-30, 1922, when the National Fascist Party became the ruling party, and Benito Mussolini was able to lead and form a government. The Nazis wanted to use Bavaria as a springboard for their march on Berlin. Back in early September 1923, in Nuremberg, with the participation of one of the heroes of the First World War, General Erich Ludendorff, the German Struggle Union was established, headed by Hitler. This organization united a number of nationalist and paramilitary groups around the NSDAP, and aimed at creating a strong centralized state. In the fall of 1923, the National Socialist German Workers' Party numbered more than 50 thousand people, most of whom lived in Bavaria. Therefore, in Bavaria the NSDAP was a serious force. The Nazi party also had its own military force: assault troops (German: Sturmabteilung, abbreviated SA), consisting at that time of 13 infantry, as well as security, motorcycle and bicycle companies.

Meanwhile, the conflict between Berlin and Munich was gaining momentum. The Bavarian authorities refused to carry out the order to detain three popular leaders of armed groups and close the People's Observer (the organ of the NSDAP). On October 18, the commander of the Bavarian Military District, General Otto von Lossow, refused to carry out the orders of the Reich Minister of Defense, General Otto Gessler. He was removed from his post. After this, the Bavarian government reassigned the Reichswehr division stationed in Bavaria. In fact it was a rebellion. However, the leaders of Bavaria, having encountered the firm position of the Berlin General Staff and the head of the Reichswehr ground forces, Hans von Seeckt, slowed down. Hitler was informed that for now it was impossible to openly oppose Berlin.

Hitler decided that it was time to take the initiative into his own hands. He wanted to seize power in Bavaria into his own hands, taking advantage of the dissatisfaction of the Reichswehr soldiers with the separatism of Munich and the general weakness of the Bavarian and all-German authorities. Hitler counted on massive support from adherents of the “national idea,” especially considering that General Erich Ludendorff would be on his side. The general was the hero of the capture of Liege; the occupation of this strong fortress allowed the German army to develop an offensive. Ludendorff and Hindenburg carried out a successful operation to defeat Russian troops in East Prussia. In the post-war years, the general became one of the founders of the “Stab in the Back” theory. According to this theory, the German army emerged from the war undefeated, but received a “stab in the back” from the Social Democratic opposition and Jewry. Ludendorff accused the politicians of the Weimar Republic of lacking national spirit and eventually began to support the NSDAP. Hitler was one of the few politicians whom the general respected during this period.

On the evening of November 8, 1923, a large number of people gathered in the premises of the Bürgerbraukeller - about 3 thousand people; a rally of Bavarian conservatives was held here with the participation of Kahr. The leaders of the local military forces were also present - the commander of the Bavarian armed forces von Lossow, the chief of the Bavarian police, Colonel Hans von Seisser. By order of Hitler, several hundred stormtroopers surrounded the building and installed machine guns on the street, aiming them at the entrance doors. At 20:45, Hitler, at the head of a detachment, burst into the building, drove Kara off the stage, shot at the ceiling with a pistol and shouted in the ensuing silence: “The national revolution has begun!” Then he made a short speech in front of him, essentially blackmailing those present. The Fuhrer said that the building was surrounded and promised to install a machine gun in the hall if they did not listen to him. Hitler declared that the Bavarian government and the government of the republic had been overthrown, a provisional government of the Reich was being established, the barracks of the Reichswehr and the Land Police had been captured, the Reichswehr and the Land Police had gone over to their side. Von Kahr, von Lossow and von Seisser were isolated, and Hitler, with a pistol, urged them to join the new government. However, they doubted. Only the appearance of Ludendorff in the beer hall, who joined the putsch, forced Lossow and Seisser to agree to join the march on Berlin. Von Kahr was proclaimed regent of Bavaria. Ludendorff was appointed head of the German armed forces, Hitler was to become chancellor.

The first stage of the coup was very successful. But then Hitler and Ludendorff made a big mistake. They believed that Kar, Lossov and Zaisser were now their people and they were in the same boat. The main blame lay with Ludendorff, who knew more about military affairs than about politics. Kahr, Lossow and Seisser and other members of the Bavarian government asked to go home, giving Ludendorff his “honest officer's word” that they would support the march on Berlin. In the general victorious euphoria, they were believed and released. This led to defeat, even before the march on Berlin. Moreover, Hitler was more far-sighted and immediately realized that Ludendorff had made a grave mistake.

Kahr immediately moved the government to Regensburg and issued a proclamation where he renounced all promises made “at gunpoint” and announced the dissolution of the National Socialist Party and the storm troopers. The commander-in-chief of the Reichswehr, General Hans von Seeckt, promised that if the Bavarians did not cope with the rebellion themselves, he promised to transfer troops from other lands. Bavarian leaders arrived at the Reichswehr barracks and troops occupied all strategic points in Munich. At night, stormtroopers under the command of Ernst Röhm occupied the headquarters of the ground forces, but were blocked by regular troops.

The rebels issued an “Appeal to the German People,” where they announced the overthrow of the regime of the “November criminals” (in November 1918, Germany signed the Compiegne Armistice, which led to the defeat of the empire in the First World War), and the creation of a national government. But this could no longer change the situation. The strategic initiative was lost. Ludendorff, trying to regain the initiative, offered to occupy the city center, hoping that his authority would help lure representatives of the army and police to the Nazi side.

At 11 a.m. on November 9, the Nazis began marching toward the city center at Marienplatz. At the head of the column are Hitler, Ludendorff, Hermann Goering and the editor-in-chief of the Sturmovik newspaper Julius Streicher. Near Odeon Square, near the Feldhernhalle (Hall of Heroes), the procession was met by a police detachment. Hitler called on the police to come over to their side, but was refused. The first shots rang out, and then a friendly volley. It is unknown who started shooting first. Several police officers were killed and injured. 16 putschists were killed on the spot, and dozens were injured. Goering was seriously wounded by two bullets in the upper right thigh. He almost died from this wound; dirt got into it, causing infection. Hitler and Ludendorff were saved by front-line experience; they rushed to the ground. Ludendorff's guard and many of Hitler's comrades walking in this group were killed on the spot or wounded. Hitler's comrades immediately took him out of the crowd and took him away. The Nazis did not expect such a violent rebuff, and the demonstration was scattered. Soon the surrounded Röhm capitulated.

It was a defeat. Goering and several other activists were able to be taken to Austria, and Hitler and Hess were arrested. Ludendorff was detained immediately; he did not try to hide. So inglorious was the outcome of the “beer hall putsch”. The Nazi leaders clearly overestimated their influence on people, and the importance of the hero-General Ludendorff, hoping that the name of a popular general would attract the rebel soldiers and police to the side. In addition, Hitler and Ludendorff underestimated the abilities of the Bavarian leadership - Kara, Lossow and others, who did not want to give up power. However, the putsch led to a strategic gain. The uprising became a huge PR campaign for the NSDAP, which the whole country started talking about. Some hated the Nazis, others admired them. Hitler was lucky, he did not receive a bullet and in one day became one of the politicians at the national level.

From February 26 to April 1, 1924, the trial took place in Munich. On it, Hitler also had the opportunity to promote National Socialist ideas. As Adolf Hitler later said, “our ideas were scattered throughout Germany like an explosion.” The popularity of NSDA has grown greatly. In the elections to the Bavarian Landtag, the party received every sixth mandate. In the elections to the German Reichstag in December 1924, 40 deputies entered parliament.

The sentence was surprisingly lenient: four, including Hitler, received 5 years in prison “for high treason”, another five got off with 15-month sentences. Apparently, the fact of the ambiguous behavior of the Bavarian leadership during the putsch, when they actually supported it at the beginning, played a role. Bavarian judges and prosecutors tried not to draw attention to Kahr, Lossow and other separatists who contributed to the Nazi movement before the putsch. Hitler even directly stated during the trial: “One thing is certain: if our performance really was high treason, then all this time Lossow, Kahr and Seisser were committing high treason with us.” In addition, the court could not send the national hero of Germany, Ludendorff, to prison; he was acquitted, and the other leaders of the uprising got off with mild punishment. Ludendorff himself noted these double standards, condemning his acquittal as a gross violation of the law since his comrades were found guilty.

In Landsberg prison, where the Nazis served their sentences, greenhouse conditions were created for them. Prisoners were even allowed to gather around a common table and discuss the current political situation. Hitler was able to spend a large amount of time reading books and wrote much of his work, Mein Kampf. Already in December 1924, Hitler was released, and he was able to return to the political struggle.

Postage stamp of the Third Reich, issued in honor of the putsch

The Beer Hall Putsch was the first "heroic act" and part of the Nazis' "civil religion." The 16 victims at Odeonplatz were called martyrs. The flag under which they marched became sacred. They illuminated party banners at congresses in Nuremberg. After the NSDAP came to power, the sarcophagi with the ashes of the “martyrs” were moved to the Munich Königsplatz square, where two Temples of Honor (northern and southern) were built. In 1933-1939. The National Socialist German Workers' Party celebrated the anniversary of the putsch every year in the Bürgerbraukeller hall with mandatory participation. When the building was damaged by a terrorist, the anniversary was celebrated in the Löwenbraukeller beer hall.

NSDAP administrative building and southern Temple of Honor

The situation in Germany in the autumn of 1923

The beginning of the coup

On the evening of November 8, about 3,000 people gathered in Munich's Bürgerbräukeller, a huge beer hall, to listen to Gustav von Kahr speak. Along with him on the podium were local senior officials - General Otto von Lossow, commander of the Bavarian armed forces, and Colonel Hans von Seisser, chief of the Bavarian police. While Kar was speaking to the crowd, about 600 stormtroopers quietly surrounded the hall. Members of the SA installed machine guns on the street, aiming them at the entrance doors. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, surrounded by his supporters, quickly ran in the darkness between the tables, and in the ensuing silence shouted: “The national revolution has begun!” He then addressed the astonished audience: “There are 600 armed people in the hall. No one is allowed to leave. The Bavarian and Berlin governments are now overthrown. Now a new government will be formed. The Reichswehr and police barracks are captured. Everyone must rise up again to fight under the swastika banner!”

At gunpoint, convinced by Hitler and Ludendorff, Kahr and Lossow announced that they were joining the march on Berlin. Hitler proclaimed Kahr regent of Bavaria and announced that on the same day a new German government would be formed in Munich, which would remove President Friedrich Ebert from power. Hitler immediately appointed Ludendorff as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (Reichswehr) and himself as Imperial Chancellor. Hitler pathetically exclaimed: “The time has come to fulfill the oath that I made five years ago when I was in the hospital!” The hall erupted in applause, expressing approval by the knocking of beer mugs on the oak tables.

Meanwhile, Gustav von Kahr and Otto von Lossow, Hans von Seisser and other members of the government asked to go home, giving Ludendorff his “honest officer's word” that they supported the “march on Berlin.” In general euphoria from such a quick and easy success and at a time when Hitler was not in the room, they were released. And as it soon became clear, it was absolutely in vain. When Hitler learned a few minutes later that the Bavarian leaders had escaped the trap, he swore loudly, reproaching Ludendorff for being a crook. The Fuhrer had no doubt that Kahr and Lossow were not going to keep their “honest officer’s word.” Indeed, Kahr's proclamation soon began to circulate, in which he renounced all statements made "at gunpoint" and announced the dissolution of the NSDAP and the storm troopers.

March through Munich

Consequences

Having not received any support either among the population or among the military (which Hitler especially counted on due to the sympathies for the NSDAP of General Ludendorff, a hero of the First World War), the putsch was thus suppressed. Participants in the march, including Hitler, received prison sentences of varying lengths.

It was in Landsberg prison, where they served their sentences (under very lenient conditions - for example, they were allowed to gather around a common table and discuss political issues), Adolf Hitler wrote most of his book “My Struggle”.

The National Socialists who died during the putsch were later declared “martyrs” by official propaganda. The flag under which they marched (and on which, according to the official version, drops of the martyrs’ blood fell) was subsequently used as a “sacred” during the “blessing” of party banners: at party congresses in Nuremberg, Adolf Hitler attached new flags to the “sacred” banner, thus performing the ritual of “consecration” of new banners.

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See what the “Munich Putsch” is in other dictionaries:

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2014 are reminiscent of those that took place in Germany just over 90 years ago and went down in history as the “Beer Hall Putsch.”

Germany in the 1920s was in dire straits. The Weimar Republic, established after defeat in the First World War and the fall of the monarchy, lived under the yoke of all sorts of restrictions imposed on it by the Treaty of Versailles.

A particularly heavy burden for Germany was the payment of reparations established by the victorious powers. As a result, the economic situation in the Weimar Republic was very deplorable.

Since 1922, due to hyperinflation, Germany switched from financial payments for reparations to supplies of raw materials: coal, steel, wood.

According to the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty, if Germany violated the reparation payment schedule, France received the right to occupy new territories of the country.

This is precisely the situation that arose in January 1923, when, accusing Germany of violating reparations supplies, France occupied the industrial Ruhr region.

For Germany, the loss of control over another part of its territory in addition to those provided for by the Treaty of Versailles was not only a national humiliation, but also a heavy blow to the economy.

Down with the government!

The anger of the German population was so strong that the government of the Weimar Republic, consisting of Social Democrats, decided to lead it, calling on the people to “passive resistance.” Reparation payments were stopped completely, a general strike began, and attacks on the French military began in French-occupied areas.

However, for the government there was a line over which it could not cross - the authorities of the Weimar Republic were not able to completely refuse to comply with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, because this was fraught with the complete occupation of the country.

The difficult economic situation and national humiliation caused by life according to the “Versailles rules” caused the growth of radical sentiments in society.

The Berlin government was accused of betraying national interests, collusion with the occupiers, corruption and other mortal sins. Separatist sentiments also grew.

The fact is that Germany as a single state was formed only in 1871, having previously existed in the form of numerous independent territories. In 1923, in one of these territories, Bavaria, local authorities came up with the idea of ​​secession from Germany. In this way, the separatists hoped to get rid of the burden placed on Germany.

Bavarian Conspiracy

Right-wing conservatives in the Bavarian government intended to restore the Bavarian monarchy and secede from Berlin.

In the same time Head of the Government of Bavaria Gustav von Kahr was aware that an open rebellion against Berlin could cause forceful action on the part of the central government.

von Kahr intended to oppose force by concluding an alliance with the far-right NSDAP party led by Adolf Hitler.

At that time, the influence of the NSDAP in the country was insignificant, although Hitler's incendiary speeches in Bavarian beer halls undoubtedly increased the ranks of his supporters.

Detachments of the NSDAP party are marching on Berlin. "Beer Hall Putsch", 1923. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Von Kahr was confident that Hitler and his supporters could be used for their own purposes by managing them wisely.

Hitler had his own plans: inspired by the “March on Rome” Benito Mussolini, which in 1922 ended with the fascists coming to power in Italy, the ambitious radical decided to repeat its success. Naturally, Hitler did not reveal all his plans to von Karu.

The confrontation between Berlin and Munich grew. By October 1923, things had come to the point of reassigning the Reichswehr units located on its territory to the Bavarian government. However, the German General Staff made it clear that it would support the German government in the conflict, and the Bavarian authorities decided not to further aggravate the situation. Hitler was also asked to “slow down.”

But Gustav von Kahr did not take into account that it was impossible to control the Nazis. Hitler was determined to see his plan through to completion. By the fall of 1923, the NSDAP had 50 thousand members, including paramilitary fighters. In addition, the “German Struggle Union” was created around the NSDAP, uniting all right-wing radical groups. Had to persuade the military to side with the Nazis General Erich Ludendorff.

General Erich Ludendorff (center) and Hitler. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

The hero of the First World War, General Ludendorff, like his followers later in the Second World War, was inclined to blame anyone for failures at the front, but not himself. Ludendorff believed that the cause of Germany's defeat was a conspiracy on the home front, in which German Social Democrats and Jews participated.

In Ludendorff, Hitler found not just a kindred spirit, but a kindred spirit whose authority could sway the military to the side of the Nazis.

And Hitler decided that the time to take power had come.

National revolution in a beer hall

On November 8, 1923, a pro-government right-wing rally was held in the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall, in which the head of Bavaria Gustav von Kahr himself participated.

At that moment, when three thousand people present listened to Kara’s speeches, the hall was surrounded by NSDAP stormtroopers. In addition to Kahr, the commander of the armed forces stationed in Bavaria, as well as the chief of the Bavarian police, were present in the beer hall.

At fifteen minutes to nine in the evening, Hitler and his comrades burst into the center of the hall, proclaiming: “The national revolution has begun!” Having declared the Bavarian authorities overthrown under the threat of weapons, Hitler began to convince von Kara, as well as the military and police command of Bavaria, to join the campaign against Berlin.

Paramilitary forces of the NSDAP on the approaches to Berlin. "Beer Hall Putsch", 1923. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

We must pay tribute to the courage of von Kara and other members of the government: they refused to participate in the Nazi campaign. The situation, however, changed when General Ludendorff, who supported the Nazi speech, appeared in the beer hall - members of the Bavarian government went over to Hitler’s side.

At this time, Nazi stormtroopers occupied government buildings in Munich one after another.

Hitler was jubilant - the seizure of power in Bavaria took place with lightning speed, Berlin was ahead! General Ludendorff was appointed commander of the German armed forces, von Kahr received the post of regent of Bavaria, and Hitler himself, a day later, intended to become chancellor of Germany.

The police stood until the end

And then the rebels made a mistake. Confident that the situation was completely in their hands, they released von Kahr, as well as the chief of police and commander of the armed forces. They explained that they needed to carry out their current duties.

Propaganda leaflet. "Beer Hall Putsch", 1923. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Gustav von Kahr, who survived the unpleasant moments in the pub, did not lose his political will. He immediately transferred the Bavarian government from Munich to Regensburg, disavowed all his statements made in the beer hall at gunpoint, and announced the dissolution of the NSDAP and its storm troopers.

Captured by stormtroopers under the leadership Ernst Roehm The headquarters of the ground forces was blocked by units loyal to the government. The initiative was leaving the hands of the Nazis.

Nevertheless, Hitler decided to continue implementing his plan. Moreover, such a decision was supported by General Ludendorff, who hoped with his authority to persuade the military to go over to the side of the rebels.

On November 9, a column of armed Nazis led by Hitler and Ludendorff moved through the streets of Munich to the headquarters of the ground forces, blocked by government forces. However, on the approaches to the building, the road to three thousand Nazis was blocked by 100 armed police.

Hitler called on the police to surrender, but hundreds of brave people refused. The tension grew until the first shots rang out. Historians still argue about who exactly lost their nerve. But something else is known: the police, having lost several people killed, did not retreat a single step, while their fire caused the Nazis to flee.

The rebellion, which went down in history as the “beer hall putsch,” failed. During the shootout in the square, the Nazis lost 16 people killed, the leaders and active participants in the rebellion, including Hitler and Ludendorff, were arrested.

Revival of the unfinished reptile

It seemed that the history of the Nazis was ingloriously over. But in reality it turned out differently. The Bavarian authorities, due to their unsightly role in the incident, were not in the mood to give the events much resonance. In addition, the high authority of General Ludendorff served as a kind of protection for the putschists.

NSDAP in Munich. "Beer Hall Putsch", 1923. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Moreover, in 1923, most people neither in Germany nor in the rest of the world could even imagine what this loquacious beer speaker and his associates could turn Europe into. Many saw them as mere defenders of the humiliated dignity of the German nation, fighters against a corrupt government.

The trial of the participants in the Beer Hall Putsch ended in Munich on April 1, 1924. He walked strangely and looked more like a multi-part propaganda speech by Hitler. The sentence turned out to be consistent with the trial: Hitler and three other leaders of the rebellion received five years in prison, five more people were sentenced to 15 months in prison, and General Ludendorff was completely acquitted.

The Temple of Honor on Königsplatz in Munich, erected in memory of the fallen participants in the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

During the few months that Hitler spent in prison, he wrote the book “My Struggle,” which became the “Nazi Bible.” Already in December 1924, Hitler was released.

The lessons of the Beer Hall Putsch did not serve Germany well. Hitler and his party gained wide popularity among layers dissatisfied with the existing government, and ideas began to mature among the German elite of using the leader of the NSDAP to realize their goals.

The games with Nazism in Germany ended in 1933, when in democratic elections, in full compliance with all norms of the law, the NSDAP, led by Adolf Hitler, won.

So what is next…

“When they came for the communists, I was silent - I was not a communist.
When they came for the Social Democrats, I was silent - I was not a Social Democrat.
When they came for the trade union activists, I was silent - I was not a member of the trade union.
When they came for me, there was no one to stand up for me.”

German pastor Martin Niemöller, prisoner of the Dachau concentration camp from 1941 to 1945

The Beer Hall Putsch is also called the Ludendorff-Hitler Putsch. This name was given to the attempt to seize power undertaken by the veteran organization “Kampfbund” back in 1923 (November 9). This organization was then headed by National Socialist Hitler and General Ludendorff. The year 1923 became critical for Germany as the French occupied the Ruhr and a crisis erupted as a result. The social democratic government's swing from one extreme to another provoked a wave of attacks from communists and the right. Hitler's choice of allies fell on the right-wing conservative separatists who ruled Bavaria at that time.

They planned a joint action against the Berlin Social Democratic government. Hitler was inspired by the march on Rome, and he wanted to achieve a similar result with Berlin. But the Allies had some disagreements, and when the leaders of Bavaria refused to directly attack Berlin, Hitler took the entire initiative. He did not give up his intentions and decided to take von Kara hostage. It all started in the late afternoon of November 8 in Munich in the Bürgerbräukeller (a huge beer hall), where thousands of people gathered to listen to von Kahr speak. During the performance, stormtroopers cordoned off the hall, unnoticed by those present.

The exit from the street was blocked by machine guns. Hitler appeared in the hall and, having fired the first shot at the ceiling, announced the beginning of the revolution. Among his statements were the following demands: - the removal of the Bavarian government and the government of the Reich, - the formation of a provisional government of the Reich; - capture of the land police and Reichswehr barracks. Hitler received support from Ludendorff, a participant and hero of the First World War, and so Von Kahr, von Seisser and von Lossow agreed to take part in the campaign against Berlin. Hitler made new appointments: von Kahr - regent of Bavaria, Ludendorff - commander-in-chief of the German army, and Hitler himself - imperial chancellor. After the subsequent betrayal on the part of the newly minted “allies,” Ludendorff made a proposal to occupy the center, counting on the influence of his authority on the police and army. November 9 was the decisive day in this history of the coup. Nazis with swastikas marched in a column to the center of Munich at Marienplatz. They were led by Hitler, Goering and Ludendorff, and were joined in the square by Julius Streicher.

The police initially let them in, but stopped them at Odeonsplatz. A shootout began between a hundred police officers and three thousand Nazis. Some died, and the rest tried to escape, and Hitler with them. Ludendorff was arrested, and Rehm surrendered. Hitler did not receive popular support, and the putsch was suppressed. All the organizers (except Goering) were arrested and sentenced to varying degrees. They served their sentences in Landsberg.

On November 9, 1923, the Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Hitler-Ludendorff Putsch, was suppressed in Munich. Front-line soldier Adolf Hitler, little known outside of Bavaria, together with the famous commander of the German army in the First World War, tried to seize power in Bavaria and then overthrow the socialist government of Germany. Although the putsch failed, Hitler overnight transformed from a little-known activist outside Munich into a national politician.

After the end of the First World War and the revolution, the situation in Germany was very difficult. Not as difficult as the completely devastated RSFSR, but far from the glorious pre-war days. Huge inflation, unemployment, severe economic difficulties, additionally aggravated by huge reparation payments to the winners. After the demobilization of most of the army, a huge number of military personnel found themselves out of work. Germany was prohibited from having any large army, and tens of thousands of officers were dismissed from the armed forces. Given the economic crisis, they had no chance of finding work. Millions of restless front-line soldiers could not find a place for themselves in the new Germany and were very acutely worried about the collapse of their own ideals and their current situation.

It is not surprising that it was this environment that became fertile for the emergence of many associations and unions that adhered to right-wing and ultra-right positions and became peculiar forerunners of the Nazi party, which at that time was just in its infancy and its fame did not extend beyond the confines of a few cheap Munich beer halls.

Moderate socialists were in power, but they were unable to oppose anything to the victorious countries. France took full revenge on the Germans for the humiliations of the war of 1870–1871, when the Germans not only defeated it, but also proclaimed the creation of their empire right at Versailles, which was an unforgettable humiliation for the French.

For half a century they waited for revenge, and now Germany was defeated. Of all the victorious countries, it was France that insisted on the harshest options for dealing with the Germans.

Not only did the French, following the war, take away the very economically profitable Alsace and Lorraine and the coal mines of the Saar, but they also acted as a cruel collector. Under the terms of the peace, the Germans had to pay large reparations.

After almost every delay, France sent troops into the German border cities and established an occupation regime there until all violations were eliminated. In 1921 the French occupied Düsseldorf and Duisburg. In the same year, by decision of the allies, the Silesian referendum was held. Silesia was an important region with a large number of coal mines, where a fifth of all German coal was mined. There were many ethnic Poles living in the region, but the majority were Germans. Although 60% of participants voted for German Silesia in the referendum, at the insistence of the French, part of the region was transferred to Poland, which in Germany was perceived as a national humiliation.

In 1922, Germany's economic situation continued to deteriorate, and the Allies agreed on "in kind" reparations. Instead of money, the Germans had to give away resources and industrial goods.

At the beginning of 1923, the French, under the pretext that the Germans had not fulfilled the reparations payment plan, sent their troops into the Ruhr Basin. This region was the most important part of Germany. Not only did it occupy almost a tenth of the country, but the lion's share of industry was concentrated there. Most of the coal was mined there. Most of the steel mills were located there.

Outraged Germans staged a general protest of disobedience, and the government refused to pay reparations. But that's all the French wanted. They had long been eyeing the rich region and were thinking about insisting on its transfer under the control of the League of Nations, and all industry under the control of France.

The German government could do nothing about the French, and the refusal to pay reparations and the strike only made the situation worse. In the end, the leadership of the Weimar Republic was forced to reconcile. The weakness of the government and the actions of the victors caused great indignation in the country.

Bavarian mutiny

Traditionally, Germany did not exist as a single centralized state, but as separate states. It was only in the third quarter of the 19th century that the country was united into a modern centralized state. However, some atavisms have been preserved from old times. For example, the German Empire had several kings. They recognized the authority of the emperor over themselves, but did not cease to be kings in their domains.

The King of Prussia was also Emperor. But the second kingdom in terms of status and importance - Bavaria - has traditionally been somewhat isolated. The region was rich and well developed. An important factor in the isolation was the fact that Bavaria was predominantly Catholic and not Protestant.

The extremely difficult situation of post-war Germany, as well as the impotence of the socialist authorities in Germany, led to the fact that Bavarian isolation was transformed into a craving for separatism. The idea of ​​secession from Germany and the restoration of the monarchy, overthrown in 1918, began to gain popularity in the region. Moreover, the legal heir of the ruling Wittelsbach dynasty, Prince Ruprecht, was alive and well and in the prime of his life.

On September 23, 1923, the Government of the Weimar Republic announced the cessation of all forms of resistance to the French and, just in case, introduced a state of emergency throughout the country. Fearing protests by radical political activists on both the left and the right, the government demanded that regional leaders arrest the leaders of the most active and radical paramilitary associations and movements.

However, Bavaria considered this a good moment to demonstrate their special position. In response to Berlin's orders, Munich appointed Prime Minister Gustav von Kahr, a staunch monarchist and supporter of the Wittelsbachs, as a regional commissioner with absolute powers. His assistants were the head of the Bavarian Reichswehr, Otto von Lossow, and the chief of the Bavarian police, Hans von Seiser, who concentrated all power in their hands.

Kahr refused to comply with the center's order, saying that the state of emergency did not apply to Bavaria. In addition, Kar ordered that no one be arrested. Berlin attempted to remove the commander of the Bavarian Reichswehr, von Lossow, from his post for failure to comply with the order, but von Kahr declared the order invalid and ordered that the police and Reichswehr of Bavaria re-swear allegiance to the Bavarian leadership, not the Berlin one.

It was almost open rebellion. Berlin stated that the Bavarian action would be suppressed by force if it was decided upon. Under these conditions, Adolf Hitler appeared on the scene and further confused the already complicated situation.

Double deception

By this point, Adolf Hitler was a relatively well-known figure in Munich and Bavaria and almost unknown outside the region. Several thousand people sympathized with the NSDAP party. By the standards of Munich, although it was not the most influential, it was still a force that had to be taken into account and reckoned with.

Hitler very actively expanded his contacts, trying to enlist the sympathy of two categories: respected and prominent military men who were left out of work, who could give him weight and positively influence his image, as well as the big bourgeoisie, who could finance the party and thereby ensure its continued development.

He managed to win the moderate sympathy of the head of the Bavarian Reichswehr, von Lossow (who, at the decisive moment of the putsch, still remained loyal to the Bavarian government), but his greatest success was winning Ludendorff to his side.

Erich Ludendorff was a living legend of the German army. During the First World War, he was first the chief of staff of the German army, and then its de facto commander. It was with his name that all the main successes of the Germans in that war were associated. Ludendorff was idolized among the troops, and the very presence of such a person in the ranks of the party significantly elevated it.

Behind Ludendorff were associations of former soldiers, and this was a powerful force. In the end, if anyone could win over parts of the Reichswehr loyal to Berlin to his side, it was only him. Both leaders liked each other and joined forces to wrest power from the hands of the socialists, whom they blamed for all the troubles.

Negotiations began between Hitler and the new Bavarian leadership. Although the Nazis and Separatists had diametrically opposed goals, they needed each other and hoped to use each other to their advantage and then get rid of their forced allies.

Von Kar was on the defensive. First of all, he hoped to resolve the issue through negotiations with Berlin, bargaining for, if not independence, then at least broad autonomy. Hitler was deeply impressed by Mussolini’s march on Rome last year and was planning to enter Berlin in the same way. He believed that having Ludendorff on his side automatically solved all problems. Reichswehr soldiers, as soon as they see their beloved commander, will throw down their rifles and immediately swear allegiance to him. There will be no shooting, and there will be a triumphal march of Ludendorff and Hitler to Berlin.

But both of them needed allies. Ludendorff and Hitler needed the Bavarian Reichswehr, which would become the basic core of the army for the attack on Berlin. And Kahr needed retired front-line soldiers from the military alliances and associations behind Ludendorff, with whom Kahr hoped to strengthen the forces of the Reichswehr, so that Berlin would think a thousand times before trying to resolve the issue by force at the “hour X”, when Bavaria announced the restoration of the monarchy.

It was on this issue that the parties were able to reach a compromise. In October 1923, the Bavarian units of the Reichswehr, in secrecy, received a secret reinforcement due to members of military alliances and stormtroopers joining their ranks, whom they actively trained under the guise of maneuvers.

While the “maneuvers” were going on, the Bavarian Reichswehr took over the maintenance of the combat assets. But the maneuvers soon ended, and the militants were left in limbo. On the one hand, they continued to remain in a mobilized state, expecting a move any day now. On the other hand, they were forced to quit their jobs and all their affairs and were left without a livelihood. The NSDAP was still too poor to fully support such a crowd.

Murmurs began in the ranks of the activists. Hitler assured that the performance was about to take place, and he himself pressed Kara and Lossow, demanding to act as quickly as possible. However, the Bavarian authorities were playing their own game, and their plans did not include an immediate action. They constantly postponed active action, and, in the end, Hitler, who was afraid of losing the mobilized combat asset, decided to act proactively, forcing his forced allies to take active action.

Beer putsch

On November 8, 1923, in the high-status Bürgerbräukeller beer hall, whose regulars were mainly wealthy sections of society, a speech was scheduled for Kahr and the rest of the leaders of Bavaria. The entire Bavarian political elite was supposed to attend the performance. Hitler was confident that it was there that they would finally make their announcement of their intention to restore the Bavarian monarchy.

It was a lucky chance when all the eggs were in one basket, and Hitler hoped to force them to revolt against Berlin. Moreover, as a prominent political figure in Munich, Hitler was officially invited to the meeting.

On the evening of November 8, about three thousand people gathered in the beer hall. Von Kahr began his speech. Hitler was also in the hall, listening to the speaker and periodically drinking beer with the most innocent look. Meanwhile, his attack aircraft were already surrounding the pub building.

While Kahr was speaking, two machine guns were installed in the lobby of the pub. At approximately 20:45, Goering (then leading the stormtroopers) burst into the hall where the performance was taking place, surrounded by several armed subordinates. Hitler immediately rushed to the podium, jumped onto a chair and fired a pistol at the ceiling, shouting: “The national revolution has begun! The Reichswehr is for us!”

He then forbade the public to leave their seats and announced that the government had been overthrown, the Reichswehr barracks had been captured, and the police were also on the side of the rebels.

After this, Ludendorff was brought into the hall, who was not aware of the putsch. Having actually taken the Bavarian leadership hostage, Hitler hoped to force it to act in his own interests.

Realizing that resistance was pointless, Kahr, Lossow and Seiser declared their support for Hitler. In exchange, Hitler announced the appointment of Kahr as regent of Bavaria, Seiser as imperial police chief, Lossow as minister of the Reichswehr, Ludendorff as supreme commander, and appointed himself chancellor of Germany. Wanting to gain the sympathy of the audience, he even mentioned Prince Ruprecht in his speech and hinted that he would not be against the Wittelsbach restoration.

There were journalists in the hall, so Hitler's friend Hanfstaengl held an impromptu press conference, announcing the formation of a new German government.

However, not everything went smoothly. The stormtroopers managed to capture only one ground forces headquarters. The Reichswehr and the police were in no hurry to go over to the side of the revolution. Taking advantage of the fact that Hitler left the pub for a while, Lossow, Kahr and Seiser were able to sneak away, vowing to Ludendorff not to obstruct the revolution.

However, they did not keep their word. As soon as he was free, Kahr banned the NSDAP and stormtroopers, mobilizing the army and police. On the morning of November 9, the putschists were still in the beer hall, but they had already begun to lose heart due to a hungry and sleepless night. Goering suggested retreating and gathering forces for a new attack. Ludendorff insisted that the center of Munich must be occupied.

Meanwhile, the Reichswehr and the police had already occupied all the key points of the city, and the attack aircraft that had captured the headquarters of the ground forces were blocked by the troops. Hitler eventually bowed to Ludendorff's proposal.

The putschists with swastikas on their banners went to the central square of the city - Marienplatz. However, on one of the streets their path was blocked by Reichswehr and police forces. Hitler tried to make a speech demanding that they lay down their arms, but they remained loyal to the Bavarian government.

A shootout began, after which the failed putschists fled. Goering was wounded in the groin, but with the help of stormtroopers he was carried out from under the bullets and later moved to Austria. Hitler dislocated his shoulder and fled from the battlefield. In total, 14 putschists died in the shootout (two more died in a shootout at the headquarters) and three policemen.

Hitler took refuge with his friend Hanfstaengl, where he was arrested two days later.

In the winter of the following year, the trial of Hitler, Ludendorff and their associates began. Although the charges against them of treason and rebellion almost guaranteed them life imprisonment, in reality they got off with very light sentences. Hitler and several of his active associates received only five years (of which four were suspended), and Ludendorff was generally acquitted in recognition of his services. Ordinary putschists got off with suspended sentences.

All putschists served their sentences in Landsberg prison under very mild conditions. It was there that Hitler began work on his manifesto "My Struggle". He spent only 9 months in prison, after which he was released.

Such an extraordinary leniency of the sentence was explained by the fact that, having conceived a rebellion against the Berlin authorities, Hitler actually rendered them a favor. With his hasty performance, he confused all the cards for the Bavarian government, which ultimately did not dare to carry out its intentions and restore the monarchy in independent Bavaria. Hitler despised the Berlin government, but unwittingly helped it with his actions. In addition, the Minister of Justice of Bavaria Gürtner sympathized with Hitler, who demanded that the prosecutor withdraw his appeal against a lenient punishment for the putschists. Gürtner subsequently became Germany's Reich Minister of Justice under Hitler.

The trial of the putschists was accompanied by enormous public attention. Hitler was allowed to speak a lot, and he turned the court into a platform for agitation for his ideas. His speeches appeared on the front pages of German newspapers. All this led to the fact that Hitler, who was imprisoned as an activist known only in Bavaria, was released nine months later as a politician of national scale.