Munich Putsch

Question 1

Munich Putsch: Causes

Answer 1

• Anger at the Weimar Republic for the Treaty of Versailles, economic problems and civil unrest
• Situation in Bavaria - the government there were hostile to the Weimar government. Kahr (Bavarian Prime Minister) was an ultra-conservative and the Bavarian army were sympathetic to the Nazis
• Influence of Italian Fascists - Hitler was inspired by Mussolini and his march on Rome. He copied the salute and the use of flags to give the Nazis a clear identity
• Nazi Party strength would make a takeover possible - Hitler believed the Nazi Party was ready to seize power. It had 20,000 supporters and the SA

Question 2

Munich Putsch: Events

Answer 2

• 8th November 1923 - Lossow (Head of Bavarian army) and Kahr address a meeting of 2000 right-wing supporters in a Munich Beer Hall. Hitler and the SA storm the meeting and declare a national revolution. Lossow and Kahr were forced to state support for a march on Berlin. The SA fail to gain control of the army barracks
• 9th November 1923 - Ebert declares a national emergency. Lossow and Kahr denounce the putsch. 2,000 armed Nazis gain some public support and march to a military base in Munich. A shot is fired by a Nazi and police return fire. 14 Nazis are killed, Hitler dislocates his shoulder and flees. Ludendorff continues the march and is arrested.

Question 3

Munich Putsch: Aftermath

Answer 3

• 11th November - Hitler is arrested and Seeckt (2nd chief of the German Army Command) bans the Nazi Party
• February 1924 - trial for treason. Hitler turns the trial into an opportunity to attack the Weimar regime and achieves national fame. The Nazis become the third largest in Bavaria. The judge is sympathetic and Hitler only receives 5 years in prison (Ludendorff is acquitted).
• Hitler is imprisoned at Landsberg Prison. He writes Mein Kampf
• The Nazis disintegrate without their leader. Hitler is released on the 24th December after 9 months.

Question 4

Munich Putsch: Why did it fail?

Answer 4

• Hitler’s poor planning: Poor long term planning - Steps to achieving a national revolution were not laid out.
• Hitler’s poor planning: Hitler in his speech at Burgerbraukeller on the 8th November said the army and police barracks had been occupied - they hadn’t.
• Hitler’s poor planning: Hitler misjudged and overestimated the support of Kahr and Lossow who promptly denounced the putsch as soon as they were freed from the Beer Hall
• Hitler’s poor planning: Hitler had not taken over media which meant news could spread quickly to Berlin, allowing Ebert to act quickly.
• Lack of support in Bavaria: The Bavarian people were lukewarm in their support as their economic situation picked up in 1923 so while the army and government might have been sympathetic to their views, the people were not.
• Bad timing: By 1923, Germany was over the worst effects of hyperinflation. Stresemann had taken over and began to have positive contact with other countries. The time for revolution had passed.
• Actions of the Weimar Government: Ebert acted decisively to crush the putsch. He declared a national state of emergency and Seeckt ordered Lossow to crush the revolt.