2.2 Munich Putsch and lean years, 1923-29

Question 1

Long-term causes of the Munich Putsch

Answer 1

1918-23 lots of grievances e.g. dolchstoss, reparations led to deep resentment of Weimar, support for nationalist parties
1919-23 NSDAP growing -> Bavarian state leaders didn’t like Weimar, turned blind eye to SA violence

Question 2

Medium-term causes of Munich Putsch

Answer 2

1921-22 Nazis influenced by Fascists in Italy and Mussolini
Modelled salute and flags on Fascists
M led paramilitary forces in march on Rome forcing Italy to accept his leadership

Question 3

Short-term causes of Munich Putsch

Answer 3

1923 - hyperinflation reached peak
100 marks = 200,000 billion marks
French occupied the Ruhr and arrested/imprisoned/deported Germans refusing to work

Question 4

When did the Munich Putsch start?

Answer 4

8th November, 1923

Question 5

Who was in the Burgerbrau Keller Beer Hall when Hitler burst in?

Answer 5

Gustav von Kahr - leader of state government of Bavaria
von Seisser - head of Bavarian police
von Lossow - head of German Army in Bavaria

Question 6

What events in the Munich Putsch happened on the first day?

Answer 6

Hitler burst into hall w/600 SA members
Claimed he was taking over Bavaria and then Berlin to overthrow Weimar
Demanded support from von Seisser, Lossow and Kahr
They reluctantly agreed
Rohm and SA took over local police
Army barracks stayed in Weimar hands
Ludendorff released Kahr, Lossow and Seisser

Question 7

What happened early the next day?

Answer 7

Launched their attack in Munich but Bavarian leaders decided to put it down
Hitler hesitated

Question 8

What happened at midday the next day?

Answer 8

Hitler decided to continue with 1000 SA and 2000 ‘volunteers’
Townspeople indifference and army loyal to Bavarian gov
Group of SS led to main square
Hitler and Goering injured
14 Hitler supporters and 4 police died

Question 9

What happened after the Munich Putsch descended into chaos?

Answer 9

Lundendorff, Rohm and Streicher arrested
Goering went into hiding abroad
Hitler fled in car and hid in friend’s house

Question 10

When was Hitler arrested?

Answer 10

11th November 1923

Question 11

Consequences of Munich Putsch

Answer 11

Ludendorff found not guilty due to judge’s support
Hitler and others found guilty - 5 years in prison
NSDAP banned

Question 12

What were Hitler’s racist beliefs?

Answer 12

Aryan race destined to rule world
Jewish conspiracy to undermine it
By intermarriage, taking over industry, and moderate parties

Question 13

What other views did Hitler express using Mein Kampf?

Answer 13

Socialism - wealth of industry to benefit workers
Nationalism - reverse ToV, invade Russia to drive out Communist and make land for farmers
Totalitarianism - democracy = weak
Tranditional German values - family values, male/femal roles, Christian morality

Question 14

.How long was Hitler actually imprisoned?

Answer 14

9 months

Question 15

What was Hitler’s new method to gain power?

Answer 15

make NSDAP more organised so that he would be elected rather than trying to force his way in

Question 16

How was the Nazi HQ changed?

Answer 16

Secretary & treasurer appointed
mini state - departments for finance, foreing affairs, industry, agriculture and education
German Women’s Order and Nationalist Socialist German Students’ League - Hitler Youth

Question 17

How did the Nazi Party become national?

Answer 17

Regions = Gau
Leader = gauleiter
Hitler expected most able leaders to force their way to the top like he did

Question 18

Where did the money come from?

Answer 18

Raised money from wealthy, like-minded industrialists

Received loans from big businessmen e.g. Thyssen, Bosch

Question 19

Why didn’t Hitler trust the SA?

Answer 19

Many violent and hard to control

SA became loyal to Rohm while Hitler was in prison

Question 20

How did Hitler increase his control over the SA in 1925?

Answer 20

Replaced Rohm as SA leader

Set up SS (Protection Squad) - smaller group, specially selected

Question 21

What were SS feared for?

Answer 21

Black uniform

Question 22

How many SS members were there by 1930 and who expanded their number?

Answer 22

3,000

Heinrich Himmler, their leader

Question 23

How did the split in the Nazi Party come about?

Answer 23

Northern gauleiters e.g. Goebbels and Strasser emphasised socialist element - benefits for workers and attacks on businessmen
Southern gauleiters e.g. Hitler emphasised nationalist element - strong Germany and anti-Semitism

Question 24

What happened at the Bamburg Conference, 1926?

Answer 24

Northern leaders put ideas forward
Hitler made his points cleaar (for 5 hrs)
Made socialists seem like communists
Goebbels abandoned Strasser

Question 25

What were the consequences of the Bamburg conference?

Answer 25

Hitler’s control of the party was clear
Goebbels promoted to Gauleiter of Berlin as a reward
Strasser pledged allegiance to Hitler but wasn’t trusted
Socialist principles of Nazis were weakened - could adopt new policies

Question 26

Why was support limited for the Nazi Party?

Answer 26

Inflation eased, employment increased so support for extremist parties went down
Kellog-Briand, Locarno Pact gave Germany more status - cut support for nationalist parties
Hindenburg became president (1925) - war hero, increased support for Weimar, cut NSDAP support