The Nazi Party, 1920-23

Including the Munich Putsch

What was the Nazi Party formerly called?

The German Workers’ Party (DAP)

How did Hitler come to join the German Workers’ Party?

• He returned to Germany in 1918 after WWI and remained in the army, being appointed to an intelligence unit

• Was sent to Munich to spy on the DAP

• Within a week, he had impressed the leader and was appointed as member 555

Who was the leader of the DAP in 1919?

Anton Drexlar

How come Hitler was member 555?

He was actually number 55, but the DAP started counting members from 500 to appear larger than they actually were.

What happened to Hitler in March 1920?

He was discharged from the army and began working full time for the DAP.

What was Hitler put in charge of in Feb 1920?

The DAP’s propaganda

What did he do as propaganda leader?

• Revised the party’s manifesto into the 25 Point Programme

• Renamed the party the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or Nazis for short

What does SA stand for?

Sturmabteiling

Who led the SA?

Ernst Röhm

What was the SA’s role in its early years?

To protect Hitler against the communists who may turn up to their meetings

Why were the SA so well equipped?

They were ex-military

What purpose did they serve for the Nazis?

A paramilitary wing

Were they prevalent across Germany at this time?

No, only in Munich

How many members did the Nazi Party have by 1923?

20,000

How did Hitler believe General Ludendorff could help the Nazis?

By supporting the Nazis against the Weimar government, making takeover possible

Why had Germans developed a deep anger towards the Weimar Republic from 1918-23?

• ‘Stab in the back’ myth

• reparations

• loss of Germany’s colonies

How did this help the Nazis?

People had given up with moderate parties, and thus turned to extremist parties such as the Nazis.

Whose support did Hitler have in Bavaria?

Important nationalist politicians, such as Gustav von Kahr

• sometimes ignored SA violence

Who were the Nazis influenced by from 1921-2?

The Fascists, an Italian right-wing party led by Benito Mussolini

• copied their salute and use of flags, helping to give them a clear identity

• Mussolini’s ‘March on Rome’ inspired Hitler’s Munich Putsch

Why did Hitler start the Munich Putsch when he did?

1923 was a very poor year for the Weimar government

• Von Kahr had initially made an agreement with him, but called it off on 4th Nov, causing Hitler to rally the SA to rebel

What night did the events in the Beer Hall occur?

8th Nov 1923

What was happening in the beer hall?

Von Kahr was giving a speech to the other right-wing parties in Bavaria where he urged them to join him in a rebellion against the government (without the Nazis).

What was Hitler’s reaction?

Burst into the meeting with 600 storm troopers

What did Hitler do once he had burst in to the meeting?

Threatened Von Kahr and his fellow government ministers with a gun until they agreed to join the rebellion.

When did Ludendorff arrive to the putsch?

Late

What was Hitler’s mistake?

Allowing Von Kahr and the other ministers so go home

• They alerted the Weimar government, and army troops were called in to deal with the problem

What was the SA doing at this time (under the control of Ernst Röhm)?

Taking over army headquarters and the offices of local newspapers

What did Hitler do the next day?

Marched into Munich with the Nazis for what they thought would be a triumphant takeover.

What actually happened?

They were met by police and army. There was a scuffle, killing 26 Nazis.

What was Hitler’s reaction?

He was disappointed, because he thought the army wouldn’t fire on them because they had Ludendorff but would instead join their rebellion.

What was the outcome for Hitler?

He was arrested, albeit with a lenient sentence because the judges were right-wing sympathisers.

Why was Hitler’s arrest actually positive for him?

• He made various speeches attacking the Weimar government at the trial, setting himself up as its opponent

• He had a very comfortable prison sentence in Landsberg Castle, where he wrote his book Mein Kampf (my struggle)

• Overall brought him a great amount of publicity

What did Hitler realise after the Putsch?

The Nazis would not be able to take over the government by force - they would have to work within the system of Weimar democracy that they hated.

What therefore did he begin to work on next?

Getting elected

Arguments the Munich Putsch was a failure for the Nazis

• Hitler was imprisoned

• 16 Nazis were killed

• Putsch failed

• Nazis had to rethink their strategy

Arguments the Munich Putsch was a success for the Nazis

• Hitler and Ludendorff got let off lightly by the judges, proving they had support within the legal system

• Hitler got a lot of publicity through the trial and his book, Mein Kampf

• Led them to take a more successful plan of action to get into government

What were Hitler’s key beliefs outlined in Mein Kampf?

• Measures to be taken against the Jews

• The need for more living space (Lebensraum)

• His belief in the dominance of the Aryan Race

How many copies did the book sell before Hitler came to power in 1933?

240,000

How many copies did the book sell by 1939?

5.2 million

When was the ban on the Nazi Party lifted?

1925

Where did Hitler choose to make his return in Feb 1925?

The same beer hall in Munich that the putsch began in.

How many attended this rally?

4000