Friday 11th November 2005

UNIT 2: The Rise of the Nazis: How was

Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?

Focus:Why were the Nazis unsuccessful before 1929 and

successful after?

Today’s objective:

To evaluate the Munich Putsch and to make a judgement as to whether it was a success or a failure

• Key words: Putsch - Trying to overthrow the government

• Starter: Give two reasons why you think Hitler chose 1923 to attempt a putsch.

There are two interpretations (views) of the Munich Putsch

• In this investigation you can decide which of the interpretations you most agree with.

View One It was a failure for the Nazis. Their putsch was a fiasco.It was easily crushed and showed

how powerless they really were.

View TwoIt was a success for the

Nazis.The putsch itself may have

failed but it launched the Nazis onto the national scene.

It made Hitler famous and was the main building block for the Nazis’ later success

Why did Hitler attempt a putsch in 1923?

What happened on 8th

November?

• 8 November 1923 a meeting being addressed by Gustav von Kahr, the Head of the Bavarian government, was suddenly interrupted by a Nazi demonstration

• The hall was surrounded by SA men, and Hitler burst in brandishing a revolver. He announced that he was taking over the government of Bavaria.

• The next stage, he said, would be a march on Berlin to take over the German government.

• He tried to persuade Kahr to support him but he said nothing. Kahr was locked in a room, until he agreed to support the putsch.

What happened on 9th November?

• Hitler, Ludendorff and 3000 Nazis marched into Munich.

• When they reached the city centre, they found the police and army waiting for them.

• A shot rang out – no-one knows who fired first – and a hail of bullets swept the street from either side.

• Hitler fell, dislocating his shoulder, he lost his nerve and fled the scene

• 16 Nazis and 3 policemen were dead

• Ludendorff marched onwards until he was arrested.

The outcome!

• It could be argued that the most successful part of the putsch was the trial!

• Ludendorff was declared innocent

• Hitler admitted that he was guilty of trying to overthrow the Weimar system of parliamentary government

• He then set about showing how this was no crime as he was trying to restore German greatness.

• Many Germans felt this was a convincing argument.

• The trial gave Hitler a national audience.

• Hitler was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment though he actually served only 9 months.

• While in prison he wrote Mein Kampf which set out his ideas.

Task 1: What can you learn from Source C about the organisation of the Munich Putsch?

Hitler and his fellow Nazis pose for a photograph in

Landsberg prison. Rudolf Hess sits on his right.

Task 2:

a) Describe this picture

b) What does this photo tell you about prison life for the Nazis?

c) Why do you think it was like this?

Task 3: Explain why Hitler believed that failing was actually beneficial to the Nazis

Task 4: Was the Munich Putsch a success or a failure? Complete the table (sheet) and

write a conclusion

Success Failure

Homework – Write a newspaper report describing the events of 8 and 9 the November interviewing 2 people.

Due Friday 18th November

Include

- a headline

- Description of events on 8th and 9th November-Give a background of Hitler -Explain you think Hitler chose this time to go for it-Explain why it failed-Explain why the Nazis say it didn’t fail-Include a picture

The pro-Nazi interview should explain how the putsch showed the authority and leadership skills of Hitler and the strength of Nazi support.

The anti-Nazi interview should make it clear how Hitler only achieved support by violence and threats, and how he showed his cowardice in the end

Make a judgement about the success or failure of the putsch