The Beer Hall Putsch: Hitler's failed first attempt at seizing power in Germany

Following the end of World War I in 1918, Germany found itself in a state of turmoil.

The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, imposed heavy reparations on the nation.

This led to widespread economic hardships: hyperinflation soared and the German mark becoming virtually worthless by 1923.

In addition, this economic instability was compounded by political unrest. The Weimar Republic, established in 1919, faced challenges from both left-wing and right-wing factions.

Munich, in particular, became a focal point for right-wing activity. The Bavarian government, led by Gustav von Kahr, was sympathetic to nationalist and anti-republican sentiments.

This made Munich an attractive base for groups like the Nazi Party, which sought to exploit the prevailing dissatisfaction with the Weimar Republic.

Adolf Hitler, recognizing the potential for a power grab, began to rally his supporters.

At the time, the Sturmabteilung (SA), the Nazi Party's paramilitary wing, grew in strength and numbers.

Their presence on the streets of Munich was increasingly visible, and clashes with left-wing groups became frequent.

In particular, Hitler believed that the Weimar government was weak and that a determined push could topple it: especially if he had the support of key figures in Bavaria.

In the months leading up to the putsch, Hitler held multiple meetings with influential leaders, including General Erich Ludendorff, a hero from World War I.

The aim was to gain their support for a national revolution with Munich as its starting point.

The situation reached a boiling point in early November 1923 when Hitler learned that Gustav von Kahr was holding a large gathering at the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall.

Viewing this as an opportune moment, Hitler decided to act.

On the evening of November 8, 1923, the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall in Munich was bustling with activity.

Gustav von Kahr, the Bavarian State Commissioner, was addressing a large crowd, unaware that his speech would be dramatically interrupted.

As he spoke, Adolf Hitler, flanked by members of the SA and other loyalists, burst into the hall.

Declaring that a national revolution had begun, Hitler fired a shot into the ceiling to command attention.

With the hall under his control, Hitler took the stage and proclaimed the overthrow of the Weimar Republic.

He announced the formation of a new government with himself at its helm, and with General Erich Ludendorff, a revered figure from World War I, by his side.

To lend legitimacy to his claims, Hitler detained von Kahr, along with two other key officials, in a side room and attempted to coerce them into supporting his cause.

While they offered vague assurances under duress, their commitment was far from genuine.

Emboldened by the apparent success at the beer hall, Hitler and his supporters planned a march on the Munich city center the following day, aiming to rally more supporters and seize key government buildings.

As dawn broke on November 9, thousands gathered, with Hitler and Ludendorff leading the procession.

However, the Bavarian police, along with a few units of the Reichswehr (the German army), had set up barricades in anticipation of the march.

As Hitler's procession approached the Odeonsplatz, they were met with these barricades.

Tensions escalated rapidly. An attempt at negotiation or a standoff might have been expected, but events took a more violent turn.

Gunshots rang out, though it remains unclear which side fired first. Within moments, the Odeonsplatz became a battleground.

The confrontation was brief but bloody. In the hail of bullets, sixteen Nazi supporters and four police officers were killed.

The rest scattered in panic. Hitler, who had been at the forefront of the march, was pulled to the ground, either by the force of the crowd or by a comrade trying to shield him.

He injured his shoulder in the process but managed to flee the scene.

The putsch had failed. The audacious attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic had been thwarted not by a formidable army, but by local police forces. 

Following the failed Beer Hall Putsch, the Weimar authorities acted swiftly to bring its participants to justice.

Adolf Hitler, along with several other key figures of the Nazi Party, was arrested and charged with treason.

Their trial began in February 1924 in Munich.

The trial could have been an opportunity for the Weimar Republic to firmly establish its authority and delegitimize the Nazi Party.

However, the judges, sympathetic to nationalist sentiments, allowed Hitler considerable leeway during the trial.

Instead of being on the defensive, Hitler used the platform to articulate his views, criticize the Weimar government, and present himself as a patriotic German who sought to save the nation from its perceived enemies.

While the court did find Hitler and his co-defendants guilty, the sentences were surprisingly lenient.

Hitler received a five-year prison sentence but would serve only a fraction of that time.

During his imprisonment in Landsberg Prison, he was given preferential treatment, with access to visitors and the freedom to write.

It was here that he penned "Mein Kampf," a manifesto outlining his racist worldview and violent vision for Germany's future.

While the Beer Hall Putsch was a tactical failure for the Nazi Party, its aftermath played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the Nazi movement and its eventual rise to power in Germany.

Firstly, the putsch and the subsequent trial provided Adolf Hitler with a national platform.

His impassioned speeches during the trial, broadcasted widely, introduced many Germans to his ideas for the first time.

Upon his release, Hitler recognized the need for a different approach. Instead of attempting to overthrow the Weimar Republic through force, he sought to dismantle it from within by participating in the democratic process.

The Nazi Party shifted its focus to electoral politics, gradually gaining ground throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s.

By 1933, the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag, leading to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor.

Once the Nazis came to power, the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch was commemorated as a national holiday, known as the "Day of National Awakening."

The sixteen Nazi supporters who died during the confrontation were elevated to the status of martyrs, with their sacrifices being memorialized in ceremonies, songs, and propaganda materials.

What seemed like a failed coup attempt at the time became a catalyst for one of the most transformative and destructive movements of the 20th century.