1924
Adolf Hitler is jailed
Ex-soldier Adolf Hitler greeted the end of World War I with tears: so much sacrifice and death culminating in a betrayal of the German people by Jews, socialists and democrats. He resolved to make his voice heard in the post-war chaos by joining the German Workers’ Party which he soon turned into the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP or “Nazis”). Hitler’s oratorical skills attracted a number of followers, from disillusioned veterans of the trenches to rich society women.
In 1923 Hitler joined with General Erich Ludendorff and other Munich politicians in a plot to seize power locally and use the city as a base from which to overthrow the troubled Weimar Republic. Hyperinflation was rampant, the middle class was being overwhelmed, discontent with the government was massive; Hitler thought that it was time for violent action lest the situation be used to the advantage of Communist revolutionaries. On November 8, with over 600 of his Sturmabteilung storm-troopers, he seized a beer hall being used for a political rally by the rulers of Munich. He took hostages, declared the government of Bavaria deposed and announced the formation of new government. This created chaos in the city with the military, police and citizenry confused and leaderless but the coup failed when Hitler’s men marched on the Defence Ministry and were dispersed by troops loyal to the government. Four policemen and 16 Nazis were killed.
At his trial, Hitler claimed to be acting only for the good of the country and was given a light sentence, of which he served only eight months, using the time to write his political manifesto, Mein Kampf.