Beer hall putsch briefly about the main thing. Beer Putsch. – Preparation of the Beer Hall Putsch

In 1923, Germany was in dire economic straits. More and more often, the internal government policies implemented by the Social Democrats, led by President Friedrich Ebert, were criticized both by the communists and by the right-wing forces. First of all, this state of affairs arose due to the occupation by France of the industrial region of Germany - the Ruhrlands, and due to the reluctance of the German government to pay reparations. Despite the fact that the authorities called on residents to fully resist the French, in the end they agreed to the demands they put forward. Also, the German government, formed from representatives of the Social Democratic Party, could not cope with the growing level of inflation. This subsequently served as the reason for numerous strikes and demonstrations, as well as an attempted coup, which became known worldwide as “Beer Hall Putsch.” In Russia, it is customary to use the term “Beer Hall Putsch,” although “Beer Hall Putsch” would be more correct. In some sources, the events that took place in Munich in November 1923 were called Hitler-Ludendorff-Putsch (Hitler-Ludendorff Putsch). It was from this moment that the National Socialist Party, led by Adolf Hitler, began its path to political supremacy in Germany.

Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff Colonel General of the German Army who developed the theory of "total war" (the concept of mobilizing all the resources of a nation for victory). He became famous after the victory at Tannenberg (“Operation Hindenburg”). From mid-1916 until the end of the war, he actually commanded the entire German army.

In 1923, dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, the National Socialists joined forces with the Bavarian authorities, who were represented by conservative separatists. The purpose of such an alliance was to overthrow the regime that the Social Democrats had established throughout Germany. At that time, Hitler was literally inspired by the events in Italy, when the fascists led by Mussolini in 1922 managed to actually seize power as a result of the March on Rome.

The March on Rome took place from October 27 to 30, 1922 in the Kingdom of Italy. During its course, there was a violent change in the leadership of the country, which created the preconditions for the seizure of power in 1924 by the National Fascist Party of Benito Mussolini.

However, the two political forces set themselves completely different goals. Separatist conservatives sought the proclamation of Bavaria as an independent state, in which it was planned to restore the monarchical rule of the Wittelsbachs. Hitler, on the contrary, after the overthrow of his opponents, sought to create a strong, unified state with a powerful core of central power. Bavarian Commissioner Gustav von Kar, the leader of conservative separatists, who has practically unlimited power on his territory, did not comply with the demands of Berlin, which called for the arrest of the leaders of the National Socialist movement and the closure of the printed publication Völkischer Beobachter (“People's Observer”), which has been a militant publication since 1921 organ of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The official authorities of the Weimar Republic decided to destroy at the root all attempts of the National Socialist Party to seize power in Germany, eliminating at the same time both the leadership and the mouthpiece of the Nazis, who were already armed at that time. But, after von Kara’s refusal to comply with the demands of the authorities, the German General Staff, and in particular the commander of the Reichswehr ground forces, and in fact the commander in chief, Hans von Seeckt, showed his firm position regarding the suppression of the rebellion by the forces of the Army of the Republic if the Bavarian government is unable to do this on one's own. After such an unequivocal statement, the political leadership of Bavaria informed Hitler that it had neither the opportunity nor the desire to openly oppose the Republican government. But Adolf Hitler was not going to give up his plans; he decided to force the Bavarian elite to oppose the Social Democrats in Berlin.

Gustav von Kar led the government of Bavaria from 1917 to 1924. Later he served as President of the Bavarian Supreme Court. Being an ardent monarchist, he advocated for the autonomy of Bavaria and the decentralization of power. He headed a number of monarchist groups.

On the evening of November 8, 1923, about three thousand people gathered in the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall in Munich to listen to the speech of Bavarian Commissioner Gustav von Kahr. Along with him in the hall were other representatives of the authorities: General Otto von Lossow, commander of the Bavarian armed forces, and Colonel Hans von Seisser, chief of the Bavarian police. During a speech by representatives of the local government, six hundred National Socialist stormtroopers quietly surrounded the building that von Kahr had chosen for his address to the people. Machine guns were placed on the street, aimed at the entrances and exits of the beer hall. Standing in the doorway of the building at that moment was Adolf Hitler, holding a mug of beer in his raised hand. At approximately nine o'clock in the evening, the future Fuhrer smashed his mug on the floor and, at the head of a detachment of armed comrades, rushed between the seats to the center of the room, where, jumping on the table, fired a pistol at the ceiling and proclaimed to the audience: “The national revolution has begun!” After this, Hitler informed the present residents of Munich that the government of Bavaria and the Republic were now considered overthrown, the barracks of the armed forces and the state police had been captured, and Reichswehr soldiers and police were already marching under National Socialist banners with swastikas. Hitler also did not forget to mention that the hall was surrounded by six hundred militants who were armed to the teeth. No one has the right to leave the Bürgerbräukeller, and if the crowd does not calm down, a machine gun will be installed in the gallery.

The chief of police and the commander-in-chief, along with von Kahr, were locked in rooms where Hitler, under threat of physical harm, tried to force them to march on Berlin. At this time, Colonel General Eric Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff, a hero of the First World War, entered the beer hall, accompanied by one of the founders of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, Scheubner-Richter. Until the last moment, Ludendorff knew nothing about Adolf Hitler’s plans, which he expressed in front of everyone with the deepest bewilderment. However, Hitler, who was in the hall at that moment, did not pay any attention to the military man’s words and again turned to the Bavarians sitting in the hall. It was announced that a new government would be formed in Munich, Colonel General Eric Ludendorff was immediately appointed commander-in-chief, and Hitler himself modestly proclaimed himself imperial chancellor. The increasingly dissipated leader of the National Socialists demanded that the swastika be recognized today, otherwise he promised death to those sitting in the hall the next day.

At this time, von Seisser, von Kahr and von Lossow confirmed their participation in the action against the Social Democratic government in Berlin. At about 10:00 p.m., Hitler went out into the street to try to resolve the conflict that had arisen between the government army and police units that had gathered together with Hitler’s troops. At this time, stormtroopers under the command of Röhm captured the headquarters of the ground forces, but were surrounded by units of the regular army, which remained loyal to the German government. At this moment, Otto von Lossow told Ludendorff that he needed to go to headquarters to make the appropriate orders, while giving “the word of a Wehrmacht officer.” Both Gustav von Kahr and Hans von Seisser managed to leave the Bürgerbräukeller under various pretexts. After this, the Commissioner of Bavaria immediately ordered the government to be transferred to Regensburg, and the National Socialist German Workers' Party and Hitler's Assault Troops (SA) to be disbanded and outlawed. Gustav von Kahr himself renounced his statements made in a Munich beer hall and declared them forced, drawn out at gunpoint.

Odeonsplatz (Feldherrnhalle) 9.11.1923

Hitler understood perfectly well that the attempt to seize power, which was left without any support from the Bavarian authorities, was a fiasco. In such a situation, the failed commander-in-chief Ludendorff proposed to the leader of the National Socialists to capture the center of Munich. The hero of the First World War hoped that, under the influence of his well-deserved authority, the army and police would nevertheless go over to the side of the rebels. And the next day, November 9, at 11:00, a column of National Socialists under banners with a swastika moved towards Mary Square (Marienplatz). The publisher of the anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stümer, Julius Streicher, came from Nuremberg when he learned about the performance of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and joined the march directly on Maria Square. He further wrote that at the beginning of the procession, police patrols did not interfere with the movement of the columns. But when people under the banner of Hitler’s party approached the headquarters of the ground forces, which they wanted to recapture from the government, they were blocked by an armed detachment of police of about a hundred people. Adolf Hitler tried to force the police to fold, but received only a refusal in response. A few moments later shots rang out. It is not known for certain who shot first - either the attack aircraft or the police. A skirmish began in which a detachment of Adolf Hitler's militants, six times larger than a handful of police officers, was completely defeated. Sixteen National Socialists were killed, including one of the closest associates of the former corporal Scheubner-Richter. Goering was hit in the thigh by a bullet. On the opposite side, the losses were only three people. Many of the police were wounded in that clash.

Witnesses of those events say that when the shots rang out, Ludendorff and Hitler, who had gained experience in the battles of the First World War, fell to the ground to escape the bullets. Subsequently, the leader of the National Socialist Party tried to escape, his comrades pushed him into a car and drove away. Ludendorff moved towards the ranks of police, who parted as a sign of deep respect for the famous general. Remembering these events much later, Eric Ludendorff called Hitler a coward.

Soldiers of the Ryoma detachment who captured the building of the War Ministry. Standard Bearer - Himmler

Over time, many participants in the coup were arrested and received various prison sentences. However, the punishment for the conspirators turned out to be very mild. For example, Hitler, as the organizer of an armed rebellion and an attempt to seize power in the Weimar Republic, received only five years in prison. Hess and Goering fled to neighboring Austria. Hess later returned to Germany and was arrested and convicted. In prison, prisoners sentenced in the case of rebellion were treated very loyally: they were allowed to gather at the table and discuss political issues. Hitler, while behind bars in Landsberg, managed to write most of his work Mein Kampf, in which he outlined the basic principles and ideas of the National Socialist movement.

One of the banners under which the stormtroopers marched later became sacred to the Nazis, since, according to legend, it was stained with the blood of members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party killed on November 9, 1923. Later, during the ritual of consecrating the banners, the bloody banner was used by Hitler for ideological propaganda. And honors to the fallen comrades and the celebration of the day of the “Beer Hall Putsch” were held in Germany every year, starting from the moment his party came to power and ending in 1945.

Ludendorff was also arrested, but the court acquitted him. The colonel general became a deputy in the German parliament, representing the National Socialist Party. He also participated in the German presidential elections, but lost, gaining only one percent of the votes. Later, having become completely disillusioned with the ideology of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, including Adolf Hitler, he went into religion, leaving politics. Hitler did not forget his comrade-in-arms and even invited him to take the post of field marshal of the armed forces of the Third Reich, but was refused with the words: “They don’t become field marshals, they are born.” After his death, the respected military leader was buried with due honors. Gustav von Kahr was killed during the Night of the Long Knives (Operation Hummingbird) on the personal orders of Adolf Hitler.

During the Beer Hall Putsch, no goals were achieved. Although the nationalists did receive certain political dividends. The party and their movement, which almost no one had heard of in Germany before November 1923, became known everywhere. And the number of supporters of Adolf Hitler’s ideas began to grow rapidly. In addition, the future Fuhrer concluded that power cannot be gained by force or through an armed rebellion. First, you need to win broad support from society, and first of all from people with large capital...

"Beer Hall Putsch" 1923

An attempted coup d'etat by Hitler and his supporters on November 8–9, 1923 in Munich.

On the evening of November 8, about 3,000 people gathered at the Bürgerbraukeller, a huge beer hall in Munich, to listen to a speech by Gustav von Kahr, a member of the Bavarian government. Along with him on the podium were local senior officials - General Otto von Lossow, commander of the Bavarian armed forces, and Colonel Hans von Scheisser, chief of the Bavarian police. While Kar was speaking to the crowd, about 600 stormtroopers quietly surrounded the hall. Members of the SA set up machine guns on the street, aiming them at the entrance doors. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, surrounded by his supporters, quickly ran in the darkness between the tables, jumped onto a chair, fired at the ceiling and shouted in the ensuing silence: “The national revolution has begun!” He then addressed the astonished audience: “There are 600 armed men in the hall. No one is allowed to leave. The Bavarian and Berlin governments are henceforth overthrown. A new government will now be formed. The Reichswehr and police barracks have been captured. Everyone must rise again to fight under the swastika banner !" Turning to the podium, Hitler rudely ordered von Kahr, von Lossow and von Scheisser to follow him into the next room. Here he declared them arrested and announced that he, together with General Erich Ludendorff, a war hero, was forming a new government. Still excited, but already beginning to come to their senses, members of the Bavarian government attacked Hitler with abuse, demanding to know what he meant by all this nonsense. Hitler, enraged, rushed back into the hall and shouted to the murmuring crowd: “Either you recognize the national government of Germany tomorrow, or it will recognize you as dead!” E. Schmidt. "Hitler Putsch"

Puzzled by this performance, the crowd waited to see what would happen next. At this moment, accompanied by a storm of applause, General Ludendorff, well known to everyone present, appeared on the stage. He immediately accused Hitler of allowing himself to start a coup without discussing anything with him in advance. Feeling the enthusiasm of the public, Hitler ignored his words and, turning to the audience, declared his victory: “Finally the time has come to fulfill the oath I made five years ago, when I was lying wounded in a military hospital.”

Everything that was happening was perceived by many as a comedy performance being played out before their eyes. Members of the Bavarian government managed to leave the hall unnoticed in the confusion. When the incident in Munich became known in Berlin, the commander of the Reichswehr, General Hans von Seeckt, declared that if the local authorities were unable to do anything, he would suppress the rebellion himself.

Proclamation of the Beer Hall Putsch.

"Appeal to the German people! The regime of the November criminals is declared overthrown. A provisional German national government is formed. It includes General Ludendorff, Adolf Hitler, General von Lossow, Colonel von Scheisser"

By morning it became clear to Hitler that the putsch, which was not supported by anyone, had failed. But Ludendorff decided that it was now too late to retreat. At 11 a.m., the assembled Nazis, waving swastika banners and military standards, marched in a column toward the city center at Marienplatz. At the head of the column were Hitler, Ludendorff, Goering and Julius Streicher. At first, a few police patrols allowed the column to pass, but when the demonstrators reached the Odeonplatz near Feldherrnhalle, their path was blocked by reinforced police units armed with carbines. Three thousand Nazis were opposed by about 100 policemen. Hitler called on the police to surrender. In response, shots rang out. A moment later, 16 Nazis and 3 policemen fell dead on the pavement, many were wounded. Goering fell with a shot in the hip. Hitler, who gained experience as an orderly during World War I, immediately reacted and lay down on the pavement at the very first salvos. The comrades who surrounded him pushed their Fuhrer into a nearby car and took him to a safe place. Meanwhile, Ludendorff, who had not bowed his head, moved through the ranks of the police, who made way for him out of respect for the famous war veteran.

Although the Beer Hall Putsch failed, and some of its participants appeared as defendants at the Munich Trial, it still achieved certain political results. In a matter of hours, the little-known Hitler movement, which was not endowed with significance by anyone, which became the property of the front pages of newspapers, became known not only throughout Germany, but throughout the world. In addition, Hitler learned an important lesson: overt action is not the best way to achieve political power. To win a serious victory, it is necessary to win over broad sections of the population and enlist the support of as many financial and industrial magnates as possible. Only in this way could one secure one’s way to the political Olympus using legal methods. See also "Martyrs"

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The situation in Germany in the fall of 1923

The beginning of the coup

On the evening of November 8, about 3,000 people gathered in Munich's Bürgerbräukeller, a huge beer hall, to listen to Gustav von Kahr speak. Along with him on the podium were local senior officials - General Otto von Lossow, commander of the Bavarian armed forces, and Colonel Hans von Seisser, chief of the Bavarian police. While Kar was speaking to the crowd, about 600 stormtroopers quietly surrounded the hall. Members of the SA installed machine guns on the street, aiming them at the entrance doors. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, surrounded by his supporters, quickly ran in the darkness between the tables, and in the ensuing silence shouted: “The national revolution has begun!” He then addressed the astonished audience: “There are 600 armed people in the hall. No one is allowed to leave. The Bavarian and Berlin governments are now overthrown. Now a new government will be formed. The Reichswehr and police barracks are captured. Everyone must rise up again to fight under the swastika banner!”

At gunpoint, convinced by Hitler and Ludendorff, Kahr and Lossow announced that they were joining the march on Berlin. Hitler proclaimed Kahr regent of Bavaria and announced that on the same day a new German government would be formed in Munich, which would remove President Friedrich Ebert from power. Hitler immediately appointed Ludendorff as Commander-in-Chief of the German Army (Reichswehr) and himself as Imperial Chancellor. Hitler pathetically exclaimed: “The time has come to fulfill the oath that I made five years ago when I was in the hospital!” The hall erupted in applause, expressing approval by the knocking of beer mugs on the oak tables.

Meanwhile, Gustav von Kahr and Otto von Lossow, Hans von Seisser and other members of the government asked to go home, giving Ludendorff his “honest officer's word” that they supported the “march on Berlin.” In general euphoria from such a quick and easy success and at a time when Hitler was not in the room, they were released. And as it soon became clear, it was absolutely in vain. When Hitler learned a few minutes later that the Bavarian leaders had escaped the trap, he swore loudly, reproaching Ludendorff for being a crook. The Fuhrer had no doubt that Kahr and Lossow were not going to keep their “honest officer’s word.” Indeed, Kahr's proclamation soon began to circulate, in which he renounced all statements made "at gunpoint" and announced the dissolution of the NSDAP and the storm troopers.

March through Munich

Consequences

Having not received any support either among the population or among the military (which Hitler especially counted on due to the sympathies for the NSDAP of General Ludendorff, a hero of the First World War), the putsch was thus suppressed. Participants in the march, including Hitler, received prison sentences of varying lengths.

It was in Landsberg prison, where they served their sentences (under very lenient conditions - for example, they were allowed to gather around a common table and discuss political issues), Adolf Hitler wrote most of his book “My Struggle”.

The National Socialists who died during the putsch were later declared “martyrs” by official propaganda. The flag under which they marched (and on which, according to the official version, drops of the martyrs’ blood fell) was subsequently used as a “sacred” during the “blessing” of party banners: at party congresses in Nuremberg, Adolf Hitler attached new flags to the “sacred” banner, thus performing the ritual of “consecration” of new banners.

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See what the “Munich Putsch” is in other dictionaries:

Munich putsch- See Beer Hall Putsch 1923... Encyclopedia of the Third Reich

Munich Beer Hall Putsch- (Munich beer hall putsch) (November 8, 1923), failed attempt at a German rebellion. Nazis. A meeting of right-wing politicians that took place in one of the beer halls in Munich condemned the policies of the Weimar Republic and called for the restoration of the Bavarian... ... The World History

The Munich Agreement of 1938 (in Soviet historiography usually the Munich Agreement) is an agreement drawn up in Munich on September 29, 1938 and signed on September 30 of the same year by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister ... ... Wikipedia

Munich process- Trial on charges of treason against the leaders of the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. The hearings, held in the building of the Infantry Officer School in Munich, began on February 24, 1924 and lasted 24 days. The building was surrounded by barbed wire... Encyclopedia of the Third Reich

- (German SS, abbreviated from Schutzstaffeln security detachments) a privileged paramilitary organization in Nazi Germany. The embryo of the SS was the “Fuhrer’s Escort” formed in May 1923 from members of the assault troops (SA) loyal to A. Hitler... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, bundle, association) political. current that arose in capitalist. countries during the period of the general crisis of capitalism and expressing the interests of the most reactionary and aggressive forces of the imperialist. bourgeoisie. F. in power... ...

This term has other meanings, see Munich (meanings). Munich Munich Flag Coat of Arms ... Wikipedia

- (German: Deutschland). *** *** *** Historical sketch The following can be highlighted in the history of Georgia. basic periods: 1) primitive communal system in the territory. G. and the beginning of the emergence of class society (before the 6th century AD). 2) Early feudal period (6th-11th centuries), in which... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

In 1923, Germany was in dire economic straits. More and more often, the internal government policies implemented by the Social Democrats, led by President Friedrich Ebert, were criticized both by the communists and by the right-wing forces. First of all, this state of affairs arose due to the occupation by France of the industrial region of Germany - the Ruhrlands, and due to the reluctance of the German government to pay reparations. Despite the fact that the authorities called on residents to fully resist the French, in the end they agreed to the demands they put forward. Also, the German government, formed from representatives of the Social Democratic Party, could not cope with the growing level of inflation. This subsequently served as the reason for numerous strikes and demonstrations, as well as an attempted coup, which went down in world history as “Beer Hall Putsch.” In Russia, it is customary to use the term “Beer Hall Putsch,” although “Beer Hall Putsch” would be more correct. In some sources, the events that took place in Munich in November 1923 were called Hitler-Ludendorff-Putsch (Hitler-Ludendorff Putsch). It was from this moment that the National Socialist Party, led by Adolf Hitler, began its path to political supremacy in Germany.

Odeonsplatz (Feldherrnhalle) 9.11.1923

Hitler understood perfectly well that the attempt to seize power, which was left without any support from the Bavarian authorities, was a fiasco. In such a situation, the failed commander-in-chief Ludendorff proposed to the leader of the National Socialists to capture the center of Munich. The hero of the First World War hoped that, under the influence of his well-deserved authority, the army and police would nevertheless go over to the side of the rebels. And the next day, November 9, at 11:00, a column of National Socialists under banners with a swastika moved towards Mary Square (Marienplatz). The publisher of the anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stümer, Julius Streicher, came from Nuremberg when he learned about the performance of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and joined the march directly on Maria Square. He further wrote that at the beginning of the procession, police patrols did not interfere with the movement of the columns. But when people under the banner of Hitler’s party approached the headquarters of the ground forces, which they wanted to recapture from the government, they were blocked by an armed detachment of police of about a hundred people. Adolf Hitler tried to force the police to lay down their arms, but received only a refusal in response. A few moments later shots rang out. It is not known for certain who shot first - either the attack aircraft or the police. A skirmish began in which a detachment of Adolf Hitler's militants, six times larger than a handful of police officers, was completely defeated. Sixteen National Socialists were killed, including one of the closest associates of the former corporal Scheubner-Richter. Goering was hit in the thigh by a bullet. On the opposite side, the losses were only three people. Many of the police were wounded in that clash.

Soldiers of the Ryoma detachment who captured the building of the War Ministry. Standard Bearer - Himmler

On one of the last days of September 1923, Hitler received an alarming letter from “an old and devoted party member,” who informed him of the prediction of the famous astrologer Frau Elsbeth Ebertin. The letter quoted her words in full: “A person born on April 20, 1889, may expose himself to personal danger by his own excessively careless actions and is likely to cause an uncontrollable crisis.” The stars indicate that "this man is to be taken seriously, he is destined to play the role of leader in future battles" and is destined to "sacrifice himself for the sake of the German nation."

Another astrologer, Wilhelm Wulff (years later he would be Himmler's astrological adviser), also compiled Hitler's horoscope at the end of the summer. His prediction also sounded ominous: “Violent acts with a catastrophic result for a given person will occur on November 8–9, 1923.”

Many took such prophecies seriously. However, regarding Frau Ebertin’s prediction, Hitler irritably remarked: “What do women and stars have to do with me?”

Whether Hitler believed in astrology or not, he was convinced that he was destined to ultimately succeed. This was confirmed by an event that, ironically, happened on the same day that he learned of Frau Ebertin's prediction. Hitler decided to visit the 86-year-old widow of his beloved composer Wagner to express his respect to her. The English wife of Wagner's son, Winifred, was an ardent admirer of Hitler and greeted him warmly.

Hitler timidly, almost tiptoed, walked around the music room and library, but later, in the garden, he spoke with conviction and a confident tone about his plans for the future. After his departure, Frau Wagner said that, in her opinion, he would be the savior of Germany.

The conversation at the Wagners may have strengthened Hitler's conviction that he was the chosen one of fate. Therefore, he was not afraid of the traffic accident that happened to him and the Hanfstaengls a week later. They were driving in Hitler's new car through the Bavarian hills when they suddenly found themselves in thick fog. The car fell into a ditch, but no one was injured. On the way back to Munich, everyone was silent for a long time, then Hitler turned to Helen and said: “I noticed that you weren’t even scared. I knew that nothing would happen to us. This is not the only incident from which I will emerge unscathed. I will go through everything and achieve my plans.”

2 – The situation that prepared the Beer Hall Putsch

Fate favored Hitler and his party - the rampant growth of inflation did not stop. By the beginning of October, one pre-war mark was already equal to more than six million current ones. The price of one egg has increased, for example, 30 million times. Many local governments and industrial companies began printing their own "emergency money" to cover costs. The Reichsbank could not refuse to accept this money and was forced to operate with it as if it were its own. The printing of government money itself became a farce: the thousand-mark note issued in December was taken and stamped in red ink “billion marks,” while the 500-million-mark note issued by the Bavarian State Bank a few weeks earlier was stamped "twenty billion marks." This piece of paper could formally be exchanged for $800, but by the time its owner reached the cashier, it had already depreciated several times. People were seized with panic, and they tried to get rid of the money immediately. If a person did not have time to board the trolleybus next to the bank on time, his monthly salary was reduced by three quarters. A waiter in Baden told the young reporter Ernest Hemingway that he had saved money to buy a restaurant, but now it was not enough for four bottles of champagne. “Germany is devaluing its money in order to cheat the victors who forced it to pay reparations,” he said bitterly. “But what do I get out of this?”

The most incredible scenes could be observed on the streets of German cities. A woman who left a basket of money at the house and returned for it literally a minute later discovered that the basket had disappeared and its contents had been dumped right there in a ditch. A worker receiving two billion marks a week could only buy a few potatoes with it. And when the food distribution system finally collapsed, massive raids on potato fields began - and this in a country where respect for the law was considered almost a national character trait. The only winners were foreigners and speculators who bought jewelry and real estate for next to nothing.

From January to mid-October, almost 35 thousand people joined the Nazi Party, and Hitler was more convinced than ever that the people were ready for decisive action. At rallies, he spoke as passionately as ever, people listened to him with bated breath.

According to one eyewitness, Hitler resembled a whirling dervish in ecstasy. But he knew how to inflame people - not with arguments, but with fanaticism, screaming and screaming, repetition and some kind of infectious rhythm. He learned to do this well, the effect was excitingly primitive and barbaric.

The passions that flared up in Bavaria made the task of Commissar von Kahr, with all his dictatorial powers, almost impossible. He was subjected to powerful pressure from those influential Bavarian politicians who believed that Hitler and his party should be treated leniently. In general, nationalist sentiments prevailed among the population of Bavaria. Even those who disapproved of Hitler's brutal tactics shared his dream of a strong, rejuvenated Germany. Because of this, the police authorities essentially did nothing to curb the Nazis. The army commander von Lossow simply did not follow Berlin orders and was removed from his post for this. In retaliation, the state government took over command of the Reichswehr units located in Bavaria. He was supported by the military, and this meant nothing less than a rebellion.

Von Kahr himself sharply criticized the federal government, justifying the position of the Bavarians.

Hitler was pleased with this turn of events and increasingly wondered whether von Kahr and von Lossow could be forced to join him in the march on Berlin. According to the plan proposed by Rosenberg, on November 4, the day of remembrance of those killed in the war, stormtroopers were supposed to kidnap von Kara and the pretender to the Bavarian throne, Crown Prince Rupprecht. Hitler will tell them that he is taking power into his own hands to prevent the Reds from taking it over. As a result, Kahr and Rupprecht will be forced to go with the Nazis. Upon learning of this plan, Hanfstaengl was indignant, reasonably pointing out that the government would, of course, take retaliatory measures. He warned Hitler that the recommendations of Rosenberg and other Baltic conspirators could ruin the entire movement. Hitler vetoed Rosenberg's plan, but refused to fire the latter. “We need to think first of all about the march to Berlin,” he said. “We’ll solve this problem, then we’ll deal with Rosenberg.”

3 – Preparation of the Beer Hall Putsch

Despite all their sympathy for Hitler’s ideas, the Bavarian leaders were frightened by his extremism. They believed that the movement should either be channeled in the right direction or banned. They were especially outraged by Hitler's speech at a rally in the circus, where the Nazi leader loudly declared his readiness to march on Berlin. “For me,” he exclaimed, “the German problem will be solved only when a red flag with a black and white swastika flies over the Berlin Palace! We believe that the hour has come, and as soldiers we are ready to do our duty. We will go forward!

The triumvirate that actually ruled Bavaria - the three "vons": von Kahr, von Lossow, the army commander, and von Seisser, the chief of police - decided to forestall Hitler. Meeting on November 6, they came to the conclusion that the Weimar government must be overthrown, but this should be done in concert with all nationalist forces and after careful preparation. Hitler's party must submit to the general will. And if she tries to stage a putsch, it should be done by force of arms.

By coincidence, Hitler scheduled an operational meeting for the same day. The Nazis decided to march on November 11, the fifth anniversary of Germany's surrender. This is a non-working day. Many military personnel and police officers will receive leave, the streets will be relatively empty, and stormtroopers will pass through unhindered. It was intended, first of all, to seize train stations, telegraphs, telephones, radio stations, public utilities, town halls and police stations in all major cities of Bavaria, as well as arrest the leadership of all communist, socialist and trade union organizations. The Nazi forces in Munich far outnumbered the government forces: 4,000 versus 2,600 police and soldiers.

But by the evening of November 7, changes had to be made to the plan. People from the police loyal to Hitler reported that von Kahr had decided to hold a mass “patriotic demonstration” on the evening of November 8th. As was officially announced, at the meeting, which was to take place in the largest beer hall in Munich, the population was supposed to be introduced to the government program. It was meant to invite Hitler to participate. But in fact, and Hitler immediately realized this, a trap was being prepared. The government wanted to prevent him and his party from uniting all national-patriotic forces under their banners. Perhaps the triumvirate is even going to announce the break of Bavaria with Berlin and the restoration of the monarchy, which was unacceptable for Hitler, who firmly advocated the unity of Germany.

But he saw in this development of events a very suitable reason to start speaking. Since all the Bavarian leaders will gather on one platform, why not escort them into one room and convince them to join the putsch? And if they refuse, they can simply be arrested. But Hitler did not intend to bring matters to this. He knew well that without the cooperation of the triumvirate it would be impossible to achieve success. He had no real intention of taking over Bavaria, Hitler's goal was to rouse the Bavarians and challenge Berlin. He had no program for the future. He relied only on luck and believed in his destiny.

Many of his comrades objected to such actions, and the debate went on for hours. However, Hitler was adamant, and finally on November 8 at three o’clock in the morning his proposal was accepted, although without much enthusiasm: the putsch would begin that evening in the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall.

The dawn was cold and windy. The cold in Bavaria came early that year, and it was already snowing in the mountains south of Munich. And as luck would have it, Hitler had a toothache. Friends advised him to go to the doctor, but he pathetically stated that he did not have time, because “today there will be a revolution that will change everything.”

From Hitler's headquarters, orders were sent in writing or by telephone to the commanders of the assault troops to bring people into a state of combat readiness. But no explanations were given, no details were given. Therefore, many never learned about the changes in the plan. Hanfstaengl, for example, was sitting in Rosenberg’s office around noon and discussing with him some materials from the issue of Völkischer Beobachter that had come out that morning. Suddenly they heard stomping at the door and a hoarse voice: “Where is Captain Goering?” Hitler, “pale with excitement,” burst into the office with a stack in his hand.

“Swear you won’t tell this to anyone,” he said excitedly. - The hour has come. We are performing in the evening!” He asked both of them to take pistols and made an appointment for them to meet at the pub at seven in the evening. Hanfstaengl hurried home, ordered his wife to take his son out of town, and he began calling foreign correspondents, inviting them to come to the rally.

After lunch, Hitler overcame his nervousness and sat for quite a long time in a cafe with his friend photographer Heinrich Hofmann, talking about ordinary everyday matters. Then he suggested visiting Esser, who was sick and lying at home. Hitler informed Esser about the upcoming speech and asked his friend to raise a banner with a swastika in the beer hall, where national patriots would gather, and announce to them the beginning of the National Socialist revolution.

By this time, the stormtroopers had already donned their uniforms - gray windbreakers, gray ski caps, sword belts, armbands with swastikas - and began to converge on the assembly areas.

By eight o'clock Hitler and his closest aides arrived at the Bürgerbräukeller in two cars. The main hall of this beer hall, the largest after the circus, could accommodate three thousand people at strong wooden tables. In case of unrest, the authorities sent 125 police officers and a mounted detachment here. There were also agents scurrying among the audience. If necessary, it was planned to call for reinforcements from the military barracks, located half a kilometer from the pub.

By the time Hitler’s red Mercedes stopped at the beer hall, the hall was already crowded and only officials were allowed in. The main entrance was blocked by the police, but Hitler convinced them to step aside and make way for his stormtroopers, then through the side door opened by Hess, he entered the hall. At this time, von Kahr spoke, condemning Marxism and advocating the revival of Germany. He spoke monotonously, dryly, as if he was giving a lecture, and the audience listened politely, sipping beer from time to time.

Hanfstaengl, seeing Hitler, brought three mugs of beer, for which he paid three trillion marks. The Fuhrer sipped his beer while patiently awaiting the arrival of his bodyguard squad. Their appearance was supposed to serve as a signal to the stormtroopers sitting in the trucks on the street. As soon as the guys in helmets entered the hall, armed Nazis surrounded the building. The stunned police, outnumbered, remained inactive.

Captain Goering and his guards, armed with pistols, entered the building. Hitler's personal bodyguard, waiting for them in the lobby, hurried to the owner to inform him about this.

The Fuhrer put down the mug, pulled out a Browning and, to the roar of the stormtroopers, “Heil Hitler!” headed towards the stage, accompanied by his accomplices. By this time, one group of stormtroopers blocked the exit, while another dragged them into the hall and installed a machine gun aimed at the public. An unimaginable noise arose and panic began. Some rushed to the exits, but they were brought back without sparing blows and kicks.

At the stage, Hitler jumped onto a chair and, waving a pistol, tried to establish silence. When that didn't work, he shot up. Everyone froze. “The national revolution has begun! - he shouted. “The hall is surrounded!” Hitler's pale face was shiny with sweat. To some at that moment he seemed abnormal or drunk, to others - just a comical type in a poorly tailored suit. But the Nazi leader was completely serious and ordered the triumvirate to follow him into a room next to the stage. However, they didn’t even move. Then Hitler climbed onto the stage. Kar stepped back, and Seiser's adjutant ran out to meet Hitler. Hitler hit him on the head with the butt of his pistol, and he realized that resistance was pointless.

The Fuhrer assured those present that everything would be settled in ten minutes. This time the triumvirate and two adjutants obediently followed the stage with Hitler. “Forgive me for my actions, but sometimes there is no way out,” he said, trying to control his anxiety. When Seiser accused him of breaking his promise not to resort to violence, Hitler replied that he was forced to do this for the good of Germany. He announced that the new prime minister of Bavaria would be the former police chief Peener, and Ludendorff would take command of the new national army, the core of which would be the "Battle League", and would lead the march on Berlin. After taking power, the party is going to offer the current leaders of the state government more important posts: Kahr will become the regent of Bavaria, Lossow will become the Minister of War of the Reich, and Seiser will become the Minister of the Interior.

Troika did not react to this in any way. Then Hitler pulled out a pistol and warned in a hoarse voice: “There are five cartridges here: four for the traitors, the last one for me.” Kahr coldly replied that under such circumstances, dying or not dying did not matter, and at the moment he was more interested in the position of General Ludendorff. Hitler seemed to not know what to do. He grabbed a mug of beer, took a sip and ran out of the room. The public went wild. The whistles and insulting shouts grew louder. Following the example of Hitler, Goering also shot up and shouted that the action of the Nazi party was not at all directed against Kahr, the Reichswehr and the police. When this did not help, he shouted: “Why are you so worried? You have beer!”

The noise did not bother Hitler. He walked back onto the stage and raised his gun. The shouts did not stop. Then he threatened to put up a machine gun. The hall became quieter, and the Fuhrer began to speak in his usual style, gradually raising his voice and becoming more and more excited by his own words. Having portrayed the matter in such a way that the triumvirate generally supported him, Hitler announced the new appointments of Kahr, Ludendorff, Lossow and Seisser. “The task of the provisional German national government will be to organize a campaign against this vicious Babylon - Berlin and the salvation of the German people!” – with these words the Fuhrer concluded his speech.

The mood of the crowd changed noticeably. The hostile shouts stopped and the cheers of approval grew louder. “Kar, Lossow and Zaiser are nearby, they are considering a decision. Can I tell them that you support them?” - Hitler cried. "Yes Yes!" - the crowd roared. “In a free Germany there will be room for an autonomous Bavaria! - the speaker passionately broadcast. “I’ll tell you what: either the German revolution begins tonight, or we’ll all be dead by dawn!” Having converted the crowd, Hitler returned to the room to do the same with the triumvirate.

At this time, General Ludendorff, the man on whose position everything depended, was rushing towards the beer hall in Hitler’s car. At the sight of him, the crowd at the entrance to the hall roared “Heil!” Ludendorff was puzzled: he did not think that things had gone that far. Hitler hurried forward and shook his hand. The general agreed to persuade the triumvirate, and he succeeded.

All together - the Nazis and the government - took the stage. And when Kar announced that he was ready to serve Bavaria as regent, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. Hitler himself was in a state of euphoria, “I will fulfill the oath that I made to myself five years ago, as a blind cripple in a military hospital: to fight tirelessly to overthrow the November criminals until a strong, great, free Germany rises from today’s ruins!” – he declared with feeling and left the stage, shaking hands with enthusiastic fans and admirers. The offensive shouts were forgotten. People sang “Germany above all” while standing; many could not hold back their tears. But one of those present said to a policeman standing nearby: “The only thing missing here is a psychiatrist.”

4 – Beginning of the Beer Hall Putsch

On the opposite bank of the Isar, in another beer hall - Levenbräukeller - there was also high spirits. More than two thousand members of the “Combat League” and the SA gathered here. The focus was on Captain Röhm, who called for "retribution against the traitors of the German people." Then Esser, who was stalling for time while waiting for a message from the Bürgerbräukeller, came up to the podium. Finally, at nine o’clock in the evening, they called from there and uttered a mysterious phrase: “The birth went well.”

Rehm ran onto the stage and, interrupting Esser, joyfully announced that the Kara government had been overthrown and Adolf Hitler had announced the beginning of a national revolution. There was general rejoicing, the stormtroopers hugged each other, jumped up on tables and chairs, and the orchestra began playing the anthem. When the noise died down somewhat, Rehm ordered everyone to get out, line up and head to the Bürgerbräukeller. The column set out, but was soon stopped by a motorcyclist delivering a message from Hitler. The stormtroopers were ordered to turn towards the university and occupy the headquarters of General von Lossow, in addition, they were to remove 3,000 rifles from the basements of the local monastery.

Hundreds of people poured into the streets to greet the column of Nazis marching to the sounds of a brass band, in the front row of which was the young Heinrich Himmler, holding an imperial flag in his hands. The column stopped at the headquarters gate. Rem spoke with the officer on duty, who declared that he was yielding to force and ordered the gates to be opened. Soon there were sentries posted everywhere, machine gun muzzles sticking out of the windows, and barbed wire strung around the building. Captain Rehm seemed to have foreseen everything, but he made the only mistake: he left an officer on duty at the switchboard, who was not a Nazi supporter.

Seizure of the War Ministry building by Rem fighters during the Beer Hall Putsch. With a banner - Himmler

And in the beer hall, Hess dealt with the “enemies of the people” whom the Nazis decided to isolate. He stood on a chair and announced the names of officials and officers, and they, like delinquent schoolchildren, came forward. Only the Minister of Justice took off and tried to escape, but was captured. All hostages, led by Bavarian Prime Minister Knilling, were placed under arrest.

The first successes of the putschists were largely explained by the passivity of the chief of the city police, Frick, who considered it best to wait and see how events would develop, and to begin with, he prohibited any actions against the putschists. Things got so bad that the previously ousted police chief, Pener, showed up at police headquarters, took over the reins, and held a press conference.

Hitler was triumphant when he learned of the seizure of the police department and army headquarters, but when an alarming message was received that the sapper barracks were refusing to support the putschists, he himself decided to go there and restore order. He left for himself at Ludendorff's headquarters. As soon as Hitler's car was out of sight, von Lossow announced to the general that he must return to headquarters and continue to carry out his duties. Ludendorff considered this reasonable and allowed his colleague to leave. Kar and Zaiser calmly followed Lossov. Soon Hitler returned, having failed to achieve anything from the sappers - they didn’t even open the gates for him. Upon learning that the triumvirate had been released, he was horrified. How could Ludendorff allow this to happen? After all, Lossow will now definitely oppose the Nazis. But the general looked condescendingly at the former corporal and said: “A German officer will never break his word.”

Hitler's mood improved when, around midnight, a column of infantry school cadets approached the beer hall.

Lieutenant Rosbach, a Freikorps veteran, convinced them to support the putsch. The cadets put their boss under house arrest, and Rosbach was chosen as commander.

Having instructed the cadets to occupy the headquarters of Commissioner Kara, the leaders of the coup went to Rem. At the captain's command post, located in the office of General von Lossow, Hitler proposed discussing further actions. He was worried that Kara, Lossov and Zaiser could not be found anywhere. They disappeared without a trace. But Ludendorff reassured the putschists, confirming once again that all three were decent people and would not break their word.

Meanwhile, Lossow and Zaiser arrived safely at the barracks of the 19th Infantry Regiment and decided to do everything to suppress the putsch. Lossow even called his headquarters and ordered the officer on duty at the switchboard to attack the putschists with troops loyal to the government, which would soon arrive in Munich by rail. The officer immediately passed the order to its destination. Thus, a paradoxical situation arose: in one room the putsch was planned, and in another, adjacent, it was suppressed. Only by midnight did it occur to one of the conspirators to take control of the switchboard, but by this time all of Lossov’s orders had already been transmitted.

Despite the columns of stormtroopers, the march of brass bands and the excitement in the streets, most Munich residents had no idea that a putsch had occurred in the city. Heinrich Hofmann, for example, spent the evening in a bar without noticing anything unusual, and only at midnight did he learn about the Nazi performance, and only because groups of jubilant youth kept the residents awake with their shouts and songs.

It was a terrible night for Hitler's opponents. They were arrested at home and on the streets, and many were simply seized because of Jewish surnames found in the telephone directory. Stormtroopers destroyed the editorial office of the socialist newspaper Munchener Post.

In the camp of the putschists, anxiety also grew. Convinced that the triumvirate had broken its promise, Rem ordered the arrest of the officer on duty and other military personnel who were at the headquarters at that moment.

The putschists also failed to recapture Commissioner Kara. He appeared at his headquarters after escaping from the pub and became convinced that the mechanism for suppressing the rebellion had already been launched. When the infantry school cadets appeared there, they were met by police with bayonets. No one wanted to start first, fearing bloodshed. Long negotiations began, which led nowhere. Lieutenant Rosbach, losing patience, finally ordered fire. But the reluctance of the cadets to shoot at their own people turned out to be stronger than the order, and they moved away from the building. Von Kar, taking advantage of this, quietly moved to the barracks of the 19th regiment, to Lossow and Zaiser.

The faint hope of the Nazi leaders that the triumvirate would not take any direct action against them dissipated like smoke after von Lossow's statement was broadcast on many radio stations in Germany. The general sharply condemned the putschists and emphasized that expressions of support for them were wrested from the “troika” at gunpoint. Following this, von Kahr's office issued a proclamation in which the Nazi Party and other right-wing organizations were declared dissolved and their leaders were demanded to be brought to justice.

Hitler learned of the proclamation at 5 o'clock in the morning. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. On the contrary, he gave a lengthy speech to his comrades, in which he declared that he was determined to continue the fight and die for a just cause. The new city police chief, Pener, was given orders to seize the local police headquarters and the weapons there.

Self-confident Pener headed there, taking only one person with him. They were politely received at headquarters and immediately ordered to be arrested.

Leaving Rehm to hold the army headquarters building, Hitler, Ludendorff and their retinue went back to the beer hall. The Fuhrer still counted on success. Other putschists gradually began to gather here, free from the duties of protecting occupied objects. It was still dark and wet snow was falling. Ordinary participants in the conspiracy sensed the tension that reigned around them, but did not know the details. Nevertheless, they marched through the deserted streets, waving flags, and sang Eckart's “Storm Song”: “Germany, wake up! Break your chains!"

5 – March on Munich and defeat of the Beer Hall Putsch

Finally, a cold and dank dawn arrived. Ordinary putschists, gloomy, unshaven and unwashed, gathered in the smoky Bürgerbräukeller. They were served breakfast. They gloomily devoured their food. Not a trace remained of the former euphoria and delight.

And the leaders at this time were meeting in the room upstairs. Ludendorff calmly, stone-faced, sipped red wine. Upon learning that Lossow had publicly condemned the new government, he became gloomy and said: “I will never again trust the word of a German officer.” The putsch, which had seemed so successful at midnight, was now in decline, and Hitler decided on desperate measures. He ordered the Fighting League unit to seize the police headquarters and release the arrested Pener. Acting as if hope was not yet extinguished, he sent a squad of stormtroopers to the Jewish printing company Parkus to confiscate the stock of newly printed inflationary money. The stormtroopers seized 14,605 trillion marks. The Parkus brothers, as is customary among pedantic Germans, demanded a receipt and received it.

Meanwhile, more and more putschist detachments arrived in trucks from the provinces. Tired, wet, shivering from the cold, they were nevertheless in a cheerful mood, not yet imagining what awaited them. The largest detachment was brought from Landshut by the pharmacist Gregor Strasser.

Goering, who was in the beer hall, ordered that rifles be issued to the unarmed. They were again put into trucks and taken to their places.

By this time, the stormtroopers from the "Combat League", whom Hitler had instructed to capture the police headquarters, returned without completing the task. Neither side dared to shoot, and the matter ended in the usual squabble. Following them, a detachment of the Fuhrer’s personal guard went to police headquarters. Their attempt was also unsuccessful, but they managed to arrest city councilors, representatives of Marxist organizations, who refused to raise a flag with a swastika over the town hall. Hitler's bodyguards forced the communists and social democrats into cars and took them to the beer hall. The Nazi banner flew over the town hall. There was enough confusion on both sides. In some areas of Munich, police tore down putschist posters and arrested the rebels, while in others, on the contrary, the Nazis gained the upper hand. The latter held the bridges over the Isar in the city center.

And in the pub the leaders of the rebellion were arguing. Colonel Kriebel, who served on Ludendorff's staff during the war, proposed a withdrawal to the Austrian border, to Rosenheim. Kriebel was warmly supported by Goering. In his hometown, he convinced those gathered, everyone was for Hitler, there they could regroup and get reinforcements. Hitler had the final say. But he, a born gambler, was not happy with the prospect of guerrilla warfare. He wanted to either win or lose in one fell swoop and vetoed Kriebel's plan.

The disputes dragged on until late in the morning, and the position of the putschists worsened. Troops and police surrounded Rem and his men holed up in the army headquarters. It was clear: action must be taken immediately. According to Ludendorff, it was he who gave the idea to march through the center of Munich and save Rem. Hitler developed the general's idea: the march should become a demonstration of the strength of the National Socialists and turn into a general uprising. The triumvirate will not dare to use weapons against the population. Ludendorff even said: “The sky would sooner fall to earth than the Bavarian Reichswehr would turn against me.” Hitler was also confident that neither the army nor the police would shoot the war hero Ludendorff.

Orders were urgently transmitted to the detachments at the bridges, and stormtroopers began to form at the beer hall. True, there was no orchestra, the musicians left: they were not given money or food. Several riflemen and eight standard-bearers were placed in the vanguard. They were followed by leaders: in the center - Hitler with Ludendorff and Scheubner-Richter and in the same line - Colonel Kriebel, the commander of the Munich stormtroopers Graf and Captain Goering in an unbuttoned leather jacket so that his order was visible. Behind the leaders, three columns lined up in parallel: a hundred of Hitler’s guards in helmets, with carbines and grenades, and two detachments of stormtroopers. Behind them came everyone else - former military men in worn army uniforms, workers, students, shopkeepers and simply criminals. This motley crowd was cemented, as it were, by disciplined infantry school cadets stationed between the rows. Everyone wore armbands with swastikas. Many were armed with rifles with fixed bayonets.

The column set out almost at noon. Fifteen minutes later she approached the Ludwig Bridge, which was guarded by a police unit. The head of the security stepped forward and ordered the Nazis to stop, otherwise they would open fire on them. At the sound of the trumpet, the putschists, with bayonets raised, surrounded the police. They shouted from the column: “Don’t shoot at your comrades!” The guards of order hesitated and were crushed by the attackers who passed through the bridge. Crowds of onlookers stood on the sidewalks, cheers were heard, and some joined the column. The “Assault Song” sounded.

The putschists walked unhindered to Marienplatz square and turned right along the narrow Residenzstrasse towards army headquarters. At the end of the street stood a police squad prepared for battle. His commander, Senior Lieutenant von Godin, commanded: “Second Company, forward!” The greencoats rushed towards the rebels, but stopped short of their bayonets. Von Godin fought off two bayonet attacks with his rifle. But then a shot was heard, and one of the policemen slowly sank to the ground. Before Godin gave the order, his men opened fire.

One of the first to fall was Scheubner-Richter - he was shot in the lung, followed by the Count, who shielded Hitler from the bullets. As he fell, the bodyguard grabbed him and threw him to the ground so sharply that he dislocated his left arm. Eighteen dead were already lying on the ground: fourteen Nazis and four policemen, by the way, from among Hitler’s party sympathizers.

Only those in front knew what happened. The crowd pressing behind heard only clapping. Then a rumor spread that Hitler and Ludendorff had been killed. Panic began, and the putschists rushed back. And Ludendorff continued to step forward until he fell into the hands of a lieutenant, who arrested him and took him to the station.

Hitler stood up with difficulty, clutching his injured arm, and slowly walked away from the battlefield, accompanied by the commander of the medical detachment, a young doctor Walter Schulze. They came across a child lying at the edge of the sidewalk in a pool of blood. Hitler wanted to raise him, but Schulze ordered his brother-in-law, student Schuster, to take care of the boy. Finally they reached Hitler's old car, loaded with medical supplies. Paramedic Frankel sat in front with the driver, Hitler and Schulze sat in the back, Schuster and the boy stood on the step. Hitler ordered to go to the Bürgerbräukeller, but almost all exits were blocked by the police. Shooting could be heard everywhere. The boy regained consciousness, and Shuster got down with him, saying that he would take him home. It was impossible to get through to the beer hall; only one path remained open: to the south, to Salzburg.

The order did not help Goering: he was wounded in the thigh. And his first aid, ironically, was provided to him in the house of a Jew who lived nearby.

The defeated putschist detachments rushed around the city in search of at least some kind of shelter.

Things got really weird. So, one of the groups of the Fuhrer’s comrades tried to take refuge in a boarding house for noble maidens. They were allowed to hide under beds and in closets. Several stormtroopers ended up in the bakery, and their weapons were later found in bags of flour and under ovens. Those who remained in the pub, at the command post, were so demoralized that they surrendered to the police without resistance. But when the victors of the putsch proudly marched through the streets, leading away those arrested, the crowd shouted after them: “Jewish henchmen! Traitors to the Fatherland! Bloody dogs! Heil Hitler - down with Kara!

Stormtroopers from Landshut, taking advantage of the general confusion, arrived safely at the station. Hess also managed to get out of the city without incident. He took with him Prime Minister von Knilling and other high-ranking hostages. On the way, when Hess went to call Munich to find out the latest news, the hostages persuaded the guards to take them home. When Hess returned, he found neither prisoners nor a car at the scene.

Hanfstaengl did not take part in the last Nazi march. He was at home when his sister called and said that gunfire could be heard in the city center.

Jumping out into the street, Hanfstaengl learned from a stormtrooper he knew that it was all over, and hurried to return home to prepare to escape. Amann, Esser, Eckart and Hofmann were already waiting for him there. They decided to make their way to Austria one by one.

Hitler himself, by chance, ended up in Hanfstaengl's villa in Uffag. He sat silently in the car moving away from Munich, but then said that he was wounded in the arm. The car was stopped, and Schulze had difficulty taking off Hitler’s jacket, two sweaters, a tie and a shirt. He saw that there was no injury, but that the victim’s arm was simply dislocated. The doctor said that in these conditions nothing could be done and we needed to get to Austria as soon as possible. Hitler did not agree and, remembering that his friends’ villa was nearby, suggested going there on foot. The car was hidden in the forest.

Helen met them and led the three exhausted men into the living room without asking questions. Hitler spoke nervously, remembering the murdered Ludendorff and Graf - he himself had seen how both of them fell. He complained about the general’s gullibility, scolded the triumvirate for their betrayal, and vowed that he would fight for his ideals “until his last breath.” Helen suggested that he rest. They're probably looking for him, and we need to conserve our strength. Schulze and the paramedic took Hitler to the bedroom, where they with difficulty set his arm. Helen heard him groan in pain.

The night from November 10 to 11 was very restless. Hitler, suffering from pain, did not sleep a wink until the morning. He called Helen and told her that the paramedic would go to Munich and try to convince the Bechsteins, Nazi admirers from the local nobility, to help him move to Austria.

The morning seemed to drag on endlessly, everyone felt like they were on pins and needles, even the servants. Only three-year-old Egon behaved as usual. By noon, Schulze and his assistant returned, they examined Hitler’s hand and, making sure that everything was in order, they only bandaged it.

After the doctors left, Hitler calmed down and spent the whole morning with Helen, convincing her that nothing bad had happened to her husband. By lunchtime he came out in his master's robe - his injured arm did not allow him to get dressed. Gradually his nerves began to fail. Why is there still no Bechstein car? He can be discovered at any moment! At about six o'clock the telephone rang. Helen's mother-in-law, who lived nearby, reported that the police had visited her. When Helen tried to find out the details, she was interrupted by a male voice, warning of an imminent visit to the Hanfstaengl villa.

She slowly walked up to Hitler and told him that the police would be here now. For a moment he lost his composure and grabbed a revolver from the chest of drawers, shouting that “everything was lost.” Helen grabbed his arm and took the weapon away. The Fuhrer did not resist. “How can you behave like this at the first failure?” she said indignantly. “After all, so many people believe in you, and you abandon them!” He sank helplessly into a chair. Helen ran downstairs, hid the revolver in a large box of flour and returned to Hitler, who was frozen in a pose of despair.

She suggested that Hitler write instructions to his associates, because they must know what to do next while he is in prison. Hitler thanked his friend's wife for reminding him of his duty and began to dictate. First of all, he asked Amann to keep control of business and financial transactions, then he instructed Rosenberg to monitor the newspaper and replace him in the party. Hanfstaengl was recommended to help the newspaper, Esser and others to continue the previous political line. Having written down the instructions, Helen hid the sheets of paper in the same place where she put the revolver.

Soon the noise of approaching cars and the barking of police dogs were heard. Three policemen appeared. One of them, a lieutenant, politely introduced himself and said in an apologetic tone that he was forced to conduct a search in the house. Helen led them into the living room. Hitler stood there in pajamas and a dressing gown. He had already pulled himself together and began to angrily denounce the government, raising his voice with every phrase. The policemen stared at him in bewilderment. Having finished, he advised the lieutenant not to waste time and said that he was ready to go.

It was cold, and Hitler threw his raincoat directly over his robe. When everyone began to go downstairs, Hanfstaengl's three-year-old son Egon ran into the hallway and angrily shouted to the police: “You are bad, why are you taking away good Uncle Dolph?” Hitler was touched, he patted the boy on the head, then silently shook Helen's hand, nodded to the maids and walked to the door.

At 9.45 pm Hitler was taken to police headquarters, where he was formally charged, and then taken to Landsberg, a small town sixty kilometers from Munich. He was silent the whole way and asked only one single question about the fate of Ludendorff. He was told that the general was free and presented the case as if he was just an eyewitness to the Nazis.

In the Landsberg prison, the authorities were preparing to repel a possible coup attempt to free Hitler. An army unit was due to arrive any minute to guard such an important prisoner. Hitler was placed in cell No. 7. Its former occupant, Eisner's killer, was transferred to another floor.

Now they talked and wrote about Hitler in the past tense. The prevailing opinion was that he could not be taken seriously as a political force in Germany. But in Munich, an underground order was already spreading among the Nazis: “The first period of the national revolution has ended. She cleared the air. Our revered Adolf Hitler has once again shed his blood for the German people. He was the victim of the most vile betrayal the world has ever seen. Thanks to the blood of Hitler and the fire of the traitors against our comrades in Munich, the patriotic "Battle League" became even more united. The second stage of the national revolution begins."

In his youth, Hitler fell into a state of depression more than once. He had a hard time with unsuccessful attempts to enter the Vienna Academy of Arts and the death of his mother. Later, fate dealt him new blows - Germany capitulated, the Nazi putsch failed in Munich. And only a man of extraordinary will could rise above all this, learning from his own mistakes. Over the past few months, Hitler the Drummer has given way to Hitler the Führer.

(We have provided subheadings for sections for the convenience of readers. In Toland’s book they are designated only by numbers 1-5)