FOURTH YEAR GCSE

IMAGES OF THE MUNICH PUTSCH

You can learn a great deal about Nazi propaganda just by studying these images which are all in some way to do with the Munich Putsch of 1923.
Source A would make a classic 'How useful' question.

The other sources would help you with your own knowledge of how Hitler chose to represent the Munich Putsch, his desire to control how people saw this event and the importance he attached to it..



Source A: A painting of the mid 1930s by a Nazi artist showing the police opening fire on the Nazis during the Munich Putsch of 1923. Hitler stands at the front with his arm raised.

Useful info:

The scene was considerably embellished by a Nazi artist named Schmitt, who showed Hitler heroically leading the charge in the centre of the front rank. In reality, Hitler was thrown to the ground by his guards as soon as the firing started, then quickly spirited to safety.




Source B: A memorial to the fallen putschists was erected on the east side of the Feldherrnhalle, opposite the spot in the street where the dead had fallen and the putsch had been halted. Here Hitler is shown honouring the dead, in one of the many memorial ceremonies to be held at the site.


Source C: Pedestrians giving the "Hitler Gruß" salute as they pass the Putsch memorial.



Source D: Another site holding almost as much significance was the burial place of the sixteen Nazis who had been killed in the putsch on 9 November 1923. Following the Nazi rise to power, special "Temples of Honour" were built on the Königsplatz, and the sixteen dead were interred there. This was also guarded by the SS.


Source D: This photo shows the Honour temple with the sarcophagi of the putschists arranged inside. The ceiling areas were filled with mosaics having a swastika motif