The Munich Putsch and lean years, 1923-29

Question 1

Long-term causes of the Munich Putsch (1918-1923)

Answer 1

The Dolchstoss, reparations and the loss of Germany’s colonies made the Germans resent the Weimar Republic, which created support for nationalist parties like the NSDAP.
The NSDAP had been growing its base in Munich, Bavaria, where the Bavarian government leaders were against the Republic.

Question 2

Medium-term causes of the Munich Putsch (1921-1922)

Answer 2

The NSDAP were heavily influenced by the Fascists in Italy, where Mussolini led his paramilitary forces in a ‘march on Rome’, forcing the government to accept himself as leader.

Question 3

Short-term causes of the Munich Putsch (1923)

Answer 3

The government’s inability to deal with hyperinflation and the French occupation of the Ruhr meant that the German people looked to extremist parties.

Question 4

Events of the Munich Putsch - 8 Nov 1923

Answer 4

Von Kahr (leader of Bavaria), von Seisser (head of Bavarian Police) and von Lossow (head of German army) were in a meeting with other government officials at a beer hall. Hitler burst in with 600 SA troopers and declared that he was taking over Bavaria and demanded Kahr, Seisser and Lossow’s support at gunpoint.

Question 5

Events of the Munich Putsch - 9 Nov 1923

Answer 5

Hitler gathered all of his forces at 5 am, but noticed that the 3 Bavarian leaders’ forces were missing, since Ludendorff (made head of the German army) had released them, so the German army still remained loyal to Lossow. Hitler hesitated, but marched to the town centre anyway, where he was outgunned by the state police as people did not support his uprising.
14 of Hitler’s supporters and 4 policemen were killed, Ludendorff, Streicher and Rohm were arrested and Hitler and Goering went into hiding. Hitler was later found and arrested.

Question 6

Consequences of the Munich Putsch

Answer 6

Hitler was arrested, but was released only after 9 months, and the NSDAP was banned, but using a different name, won 32 seats in the Reichstag. Hitler used the trial to get national publicity for his views and used his time in prison to write Mein Kampf (My Struggles), containing his political ideas. He also realised that he had to use democracy to get into power, rather than violence.

Question 7

The lean years (1924-28) - Mein Kampf

Answer 7

Hitler made his racist views clear - he believed that the German race was destined to rule the world, that the Jewish were trying to undermine and weaken the German race with intermarriage.
He also explored the NSDAP’s nationalist (invade other countries to revive Germany’s power), socialist (use money from industry on the poor, rather than the rich), totalitarian (throw off democracy and place one person in charge) and traditional German values (male and female roles, strong family and work ethic, etc.).

Question 8

The lean years (1924-28) - Party reorganisation (Nazi Party headquarters)

Answer 8

Bouhler and Schwarz were in charge of the party’s finance. The party was organised as a mini state, with departments for education, agriculture, etc.

Question 9

The lean years (1924-28) - Party reorganisation (national Nazi Party)

Answer 9

Hitler appointed Strasser as the Gauleiter of the North Germany Gau and Goebbels the Gauleiter of the Rhineland Gau. Wealthy businessmen like Bosch and Krupp who agreed with Hitler’s nationalist views gave the party loans.

Question 10

The lean years (1924-28) - Party reorganisation (The SS)

Answer 10

Hitler did not trust the SA because they were very violent and became loyal to Rohm while he was in prison. The Schutzstaffel were therefore created and were completely loyal to Hitler despite being under Julius Schreck. They were widely feared due to their violence and black uniforms.

Question 11

The Bamberg Conference (1926)

Answer 11

The power of the Gauleiters was creating a split in the Party - they wanted a more socialist Germany, but Hitler wanted a nationalist one.
Hitler called a conference in Bamberg to win over Strasser and Goebbels by convincing them that their ideas were communist, like their enemies.
In the end, Goebbels left Strasser’s side, so Strasser had to reluctantly pledge loyalty to Hitler.

Question 12

Reasons for limited support (1923-29)

Answer 12

Stresemann’s Rentenmark, Dawes and Young Plans restored economic stability - reduced support for extremist parties.
Stresemann’s membership in the League of Nations, Locarno and Kellog-Briand Pacts gave Germany more status - reduced support for extremist parties.
Paul von Hindenburg, a war veteran hailed as hero, became President - increased support for the Republic.