began to get worried that he was losing support of these men, who were
desperate for action. As Wihelm Bruckner stated “the day is coming when I
might not be able to hold these men back.”. He was being pushed into action.
His supporters wanted him to live up to his words.
He was further encouraged to act because Ritter Von Kahr, the Bavarian leader
was holding an important meeting in November and he was worried that he
would separate Bavaria from Germany (as he had previously threatened) and ruin
his plans. This was held on the 8th November 1923. This meeting was to
provide Hitler with his opportunity. He knew that the most powerful men in
Bavaria would be there - the head of the army, the head of the police and the
State leader. He would need their support for any putsch.
Hitler wanted to seize power, rather than use elections, because his party was
small and it would take long to be elected. His supporters were getting restless.
Hitler was also inspired by the success of Mussolini's March on Rome in 1922.
He also thought time was running out. He had learnt from the mistakes of the
Kapp Putsch in 1920, but was worried that the communists might be successful
first. This political violence, along with the assassinations of leading government
ministers in 1922, convinced Hitler that the Government was going to fall, and he
would have to act fast.
Also, at the this time in 1923, Germany was being crippled by hyperinflation.
This showed the government to be even weaker. By November 1923 one loaf of
bread in Berlin cost 201,000,000,000 marks.
The situation in Germany affected all groups in society and because
hyperinflation was at its worst Hitler believed that he had a broad range of
support from a people in a state of despair.
Hitler now believed that the Nazi Party was strong enough to March on Berlin,
seize power and replace the Weimar Government with a strong authoritarian
Government.
