Hitler then pushed the speakers into a side room and informed them that the Bavarian government was disposed and they would be part of a new Reich government. Hitler then returned to the main hall where the people gathered were getting restless and made a magnificent speech, referred to by one audience member as " a rhetorical masterpiece".
At around 9.40pm, Luddendorff, one of Hitlers fellow putschists, arrived and persuaded the speakers to support Hitler, which they then announced to the crowd they would do. It was now that Hitler made a terrible mistake, he left the beerhall to take care of some putschists unsuccessfully trying to take over some barracks in the city. This left the speakers in the hands of Luddendorff, who they persuade to allow them to leave so they could better fulfil the duties they had pledged to do to Hitler. Luddendorff let them go after they promised by the honor has German officers to abide by the agreement they had reached with Hitler.
When Hitler returned he was appaled to hear that they had been let go but Luddendorff insisted they would honor the agreement. Eleswhere the putsch was also failing, Reichwehr officers refused to hand over any facilities without written requests from they superiors. One of the things Hitler had been counting on was the support of the Reichwehr. Although thousands of SA were swarming all over munich, only one military structure was captured.
Source work
1. What do sources D and E reveal about the aims of the Munich Putsch?
Both these sources clearly show that the main aim of the putsch was to bring about the downfall of the Weimar republic. There are however differences in the sources, Source D suggest that the putsch was a way for Hitler to triumphantly seize power for himself whereas in Source E Hitler suggests that the putsch was designed to bring down the 'treasonable Weimar system' for the greater good. Here he is suggesting he was a tool of the people as opposed to their next leader.
2. Comment on the reliability of sources A and D.
Source A could be considered more reliable than source E due to the fact that is is a primary source of evidence. However, it is written by someone who its has not stated was definatly there, also, the writer may be quick to promote Hitler's failure in order to distance himself from the atrocities Hitler later commited and make it clear he did not support his actions.
Source E is not a primary account but it does have over merits for its use. For instance, it is an except from a very specific book, therefore suggesting that the author has looked deeply into the subject and has a great understanding of it. However, the research material used by the author could of been biased as we know that the Nazi's later used the Munich Putsch as a propaganda tool.
3. Compare sources A and B. To what extent do they agree about the nature of Hitler's behaviour at the time of the attempted putsch?
They are no major contrasts in the two sources regarding Hitler's behaviour, there are however several differences, both in content and tone. Source A suggests that the men marching into Munich had peaceful intentions and it was the police who acted badly, killing 14 men. Source B suggests strongly that Hitler acted cowardly, he fled he dead and injured followers and went into hiding where he tried to commit suicide.
4.Using source 2.31 and your own knowledge explain why the putsch failed.
Source 2.31 suggest that the putsch failed due to it being carried out badly and without spirit, a number of bad decisions whilst it was under way brought about its downfall. In my opinion however, the putsch had failed before it had even started. I had been originally proposed that the putsch was to be on Nov 11th but Hitler the was adamant that it was to go ahead as soon as possible, on the 8th. Because of this many of the party members did not even know it was going ahead until the morning of the putsch itself. Also, one of the many things that Hitler had counted on was the support of the Reichwehr, particualy because of Luddendorff, but this did not happen either.
5. Use sources 2.32, 2.34 and your own knowledge. Was the putsch a complete failure?
Although the putsch had failed at its primary objective, it was a great success in other areas. The most important of these was Hitler's fame, before the putsch there were few outside of Bavaria who had heard of Hitler but after the trial he had been transformed into a national hero who had try to save the people from a corrupt and wrong government. Also his imprisonment enabled Hitler to write 'Mein Kampf' and work out where the party would now go.
6. Whilst in prison Hitler decided that the Nazi Party must change its political strategy. Does source 2.33 show that after the putsch the Nazis became a democratic party and accepted the Weimar constitution?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. The party was a democratic party in the sense that it was trying for power legally through the accpted democratic methods. But, the once the party was in power in promised to use article 48 of the Weimar constitution to destroy democracy in Germany. The party never accepted the Weimar constitution and was constantly campaigning against it.