Germany on Stamps: Beer Hall Putsch

BEER HALL PUTSCH

The Beer Hall Putsch, (also known as the Munich Putsch ( German: Hitlerputsch or Hitler-Ludendorff-Putsch) was a failed attempt at revolution that occurred between the evening of 8 November and the early afternoon of 9 November 1923, when Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, Generalquartiermeister (quartermaster general) Erich Ludendorff, and other heads of the Kampfbund (league of patriotic fighting societies and the German National Socialist party) unsuccessfully tried to seize power in Munich, Bavaria and Germany.

Hitler's objective was taking power to the Bavarian government, and then tries to seize power throughout the country. But the action was quickly controlled by the Bavarian police, and Hitler and several supporters - among them Rudolf Hess - were arrested.

The term "Putsch" (coup) is caused by Hitler's exhortation to his followers would have to take action at the brewery "Burgebräukeller""one of the most famous of Munich. Having gathered a group of followers, Hitler began the trial of the "revolution" with a shot at the ceiling.

The Coup

Hitler decided to use Ludendorff in 1923 as front man in an attempt to seize power in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, who then enjoyed, as well as in the German Reich, in some political autonomy. The objective was imitating the famous March on Rome by Benito Mussolini, with a "March on Berlin" - but the coup failed, and become known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

Hitler and Ludendorff obtained the clandestine support of Gustav von Kahr, the governor of Bavaria, several prominent personalities of the German army (Reichswehr) and the police authority itself. As can be understood through political posters of the time, Luddendorff, Hitler, and several military leaders of the Bavarian police purposes was forming a new government.

However, in November 8, 1923, Kahr and some officers fell into place and denied him support in the brewery "Burgebräukeller." Hitler, surprised, put them at the same time and decided to proceed with the coup. Unknown to Hitler, Kahr and other former supporters were freed by order of Ludendorff, under the commitment not to interfere. However, they make the necessary efforts to thwart the coup.

In the morning, when the Nazis marched from the brewery to the headquarters of the Bavarian War Ministry to overthrow what they considered a traitor to the Bavarian government in order to begin the March on Berlin, the army proceeded rapidly to dispersion. In the fight with the police, Ludendorff was wounded and 16 Nazis were killed. Later, the Nazi propaganda turned these dead heroes of the cause of National Socialism.

Hitler escaped home of Ernst Hanfstaengl and thought seriously about suicide. Has since been arrested for high treason, and fearing that some members "leftist" party might attempt to seize the leadership of the party during his imprisonment, Hitler quickly appointed Alfred Rosenberg and later Gregor Strasser, as temporary leaders of the party.

Contrary to what could have foreseen, he met during his imprisonment in an environment receptive to their ideas. During the trial in April 1924, the magistrates responsible for the case that Hitler managed to turn this defeat into a temporary feat of propaganda. He was granted the opportunity to defend himself almost without any restriction of time, before the court and a wide audience that quickly before his exalted speech, based on a strong nationalist sentiment.

Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison in Landsberg prison for the crime of conspiracy with intent of treason. In prison, as well as preferential treatment, had the opportunity to check their popularity by letters he received from several supporters.

The future dictator of Nazi Germany remained only nine months in Landsberg prison and during this time he writing his political manifesto, "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle). Upon leaving prison, Hitler would have taken the decision that would guide his future in politics: do not challenge the authority more directly, but marched on to power by law. Having uttered the famous phrase "Democracy must be destroyed by their own forces", Hitler would reach its goal in less than 10 years with the complicity of military and political conservatives, who wanted to put an end to disorder caused by power struggle between Nazis and Communists.

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