the munich putsch

Card 1 Q: What is meant by ‘putsch’? A: An attempt to violently overthrow the government.

Card 2 Q: Why was 1923 a ‘year of crisis’ for the Weimar Republic? A: It began with the invasion of the Ruhr in January, which led to passive resistance and, ultimately, hyperinflation. This crisis was exploited by Adolf Hitler in his attempt to overthrow the government.

Card 3 Q: What is the Munich Putsch also sometimes known as? A: The Beer Hall Putsch.

Card 4 Q: When was the Munich Putsch? A: 8–9 November 1923.

Card 5 Q: What did Hitler do to start the putsch? A: Hitler entered a local government meeting in a Munich beer hall with 600 storm troopers (SA).

Card 6 Q: Who were the SA? A: They were Hitler’s “storm troopers” – essentially his own private army composed mostly of brutish thugs.

Card 7 Q: In what region is Munich? A: Bavaria – a region in southern Germany.

Card 8 Q: Who was speaking in the meeting when Hitler interrupted? A: Gustav von Kahr, the Prime Minister (and de facto dictator) of Bavaria.

Card 9 Q: Did Hitler know Kahr before the putsch? A: Yes – they had planned the putsch together, although Kahr later backed out of the plan.

Card 10 Q: What was Hitler’s plan with the putsch? A: To take over Munich and then march on Berlin.

Card 11 Q: Who was Hitler partly inspired by? A: Benito Mussolini, the fascist leader of Italy, who had marched on Rome in 1922 and seized power.

Card 12 Q: Which key individual did Hitler have the support of in his putsch? A: General Ludendorff – a popular war hero.

Card 13 Q: Why did the putsch fail? A: Because Bavarian politicians such as Kahr and Lossow alerted the police and the army; when Hitler tried to march through Munich, he was confronted by armed troops.

Card 14 Q: What happened in the battle between the army and the Nazis? A: Sixteen Nazis were killed, and Hitler fled the scene.

Card 15 Q: What happened to Hitler immediately after the Munich Putsch? A: He was arrested two days later.

Card 16 Q: What were the positive consequences of the putsch for Hitler? A:

  1. He used his trial as a platform to speak on his views, gaining national publicity.

  2. He was imprisoned – but only served nine months of a five-year sentence.

  3. During his imprisonment, he wrote Mein Kampf, which helped him clarify his ideology.

Card 17 Q: What did Hitler realise about his methods? A: That his methods had to change; he decided to seek power democratically rather than through violent means.

Card 18 Q: What sentence did Ludendorff get? A: None – he was acquitted.

Card 19 Q: What did Hitler’s trial show about the judicial system? A: It showed that the judiciary (the judges) had right‑wing sympathies.