The Munich Putsch: Background and Causes
In November 1923, Hitler felt confident enough to launch the Munich Putsch - a violent uprising aimed at seizing control of Munich and then marching on Berlin to overthrow the Weimar Republic. At this point, the Nazi Party had grown to 50,000 members and was based in Bavaria, where local leaders weren't particularly fond of the Weimar government either.
Several factors created the perfect storm for Hitler's attempted coup. The hyperinflation crisis had reached ridiculous levels - bread that cost 100 marks in 1922 now cost 200,000 billion marks! Meanwhile, French troops had invaded the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland, making the Weimar Republic look completely powerless.
Hitler had been inspired by Mussolini's successful March on Rome in 1922, where the Italian fascist leader had forced his way into power. The Nazis copied many fascist ideas, including their salutes and use of flags. With Germany in chaos and people desperate for strong leadership, Hitler believed his moment had arrived.
Key Point: A putsch is essentially a violent political takeover - think of it as trying to grab power by force rather than through elections.