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The Nazi Party In Munich

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Composition. The Nazi Party had roughly two thousand men situated throughout Munich in several of the larger beer halls. The State police charged with upholding the peace in Munich had patrols throughout the city. There is no reporting of any military operations taking place during this time. In the final exchange Kershaw stated that the police and local military totaled one hundred thirty. Von Lopp states that the force numbered closer to three hundred and fifty. Regardless of which author was correct the Nazis had the advantage of numbers (Kershaw 2008) (Von Lopp 2011).
Technology. While the Nazi Party was armed with pistols and sub machine guns, they had no form communication other than runners. The police and military had comparable …show more content…

Hitler’s military leadership experience was limited. This fact was negated with the assistance of WW1 General Erich Ludendorff. The police and military leaders though well trained where not of the caliber of General Ludendorff giving the Nazis the advantage (Kershaw 2008).
Initial Disposition The main goal of the Nazi Party was the overthrow of the Weimar Republic in Berlin. Hitler with help from World War I general Erich Ludendorff sought the support of the Bavarian state government located in Munich. The ruling triumvirate of Bavaria Gustav von Kahr, police chief Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser and Reichswehr General Otto von Lossow had plans to establish a nationalist dictatorship without Hitler. Local police remained unaware of the massing of the Nazis due to supporters within the police force (Kershaw 2008).
Phase …show more content…

Hitler surrounded the beer hall with six hundred armed Nazi Stoßtrupp (SA). other members of the SA moved to occupy the army headquarters (Moorhouse Ed 2004). Hitler and twenty of the SA entered the hall during the meeting; Hitler fired a shot into the ceiling and announced that the national revolution had begun. Hitler moved Kahr, Seisser and Lossow to a back room and demanded that they support him. Kahr refused to support Hitler. Hitler was agitated and left the three with two guards and spoke to the crowd in the main hall. Within a few minutes of speaking to the crowd, Hitler gained their support. With the arrival of General Ludendorff, Hitler finally talked the three into pledging their support to the putsch (Dornberg 1982) (Brendon 2000). Once an agreement was reached the group returned to main hall and made several speeches. The crowd was allowed to leave the hall. Hitler then left the hall on errands, while Ludendorff allowed the three leaders to leave the hall in order to begin work on their positions in the newly formed government (Kershaw 2008). Upon leaving the hall, the three leaders denounced the attempted overthrow and ordered police and military units to suppress the putsch (USHMM 2015

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