Hitler was appointed leader of the NSDAP in 1921and the party grew in Bavaria. Hitler organized strong, armed groups to protect the party at meetings and rallies they were called Sturmabteitung or SA (storm troopers). This group was formed from former members of the Frikorps and solders that had been de-mobbed after the First World War. In 1922 the foreign minister, Walter Ratenau was murdered the NSDAP were thought to have had something to do with this murder as Ratenau was Jewish. Because of this the NSDAP were outlawed throughout Germany, excluding Bavaria and Hitler was placed in prison.
2. Why did Hitler try to seize power in Munich in November 1923?
In Germany, in 1923, there was hyperinflation caused by the large amounts of money paid in reparations as part of the Treaty of Versailles. The German many people had lost faith in the Weimar Republic and there was a lot of anti-Weimar feeling around Germany at this time. The Treaty of Versailles had also stated that France were allowed t occupy the Ruhr which was a major industrial area for Germany. This fact really made many Germans bitter. Hitler thought that this was the time to seize power, as many people would support him because they were sick of the Weimar government. Hitler also thought that the government would not put up much of a defence if he tried to seize power.
Hitler chose the month of November to try to seize power because it was the same month that the First World War had ended. Hitler was still very bitter that the war had ended in Germany’s defeat and so by choosing this month; he was trying to show people this.
3. Why did the Munich Putsch fail?
The Putsch failed for many reasons, but mainly because Hitler was unprepared and because the German government was prepared to defend itself. Many of Hitler’s supporters were unreliable and some backed out at the last minute. Of what little reliable support he had, only a small number of them were armed. Hitler himself was over confident and his support was not strong enough. Another reason as to why the Putsch failed was the fact that the government was prepared to act and defend itself. The police opened fire on the NSDAP and many members were shot and killed. This made some other members get ‘cold feet’. The fact that Hitler was arrested showed how unprepared he was and how badly the Putsch failed.
4. In what ways did the events of November 1923 change the political views of Hitler and the Nazi party in the years up 1930?
In November 1923, Hitler had tried to seize power by use of force, and failed. This made him re-think his views and so he decided to try to gain power legally and without force. His aim was to get the party voted in as government legally. However, to do this he first needed to get the party known throughout Germany. Hitler put Joseph Goebbels in charge of propaganda and through posters, newspapers and cinema the nazi party became well known. Hitler gave many speeches and people began to give him more support. The party’s views remained the same, it still stood for; nationalism, socialism and anti-semitism but the way in which it conveyed it’s message was different.