GOETZ: K-302 Hitler Beer Hall Putsch

cacheman

K-302 HITLER PUTSCH IN MUNICH 1923, Cast AE, 58mm, Incuse Edge Punch, Very Scarce. UNC

Adolf Hitler, supported by Ludendorff, and other Bavarian leaders planned to march on Berlin, declare the President and Chancellor out of office, and take over Germany. The first stage was executed in Munich, in a beer hall, the Bürgerbräukeller, where a large assembly of all the ‘national’ organization in the presence of nearly all of the Bavarian cabinet took place. The National Socialists (Nazis) took over the meeting by force – Hitler firing a shot into the ceiling to attract attention. Hitler declared the President and Chancellor dismissed, pronounced himself the new President and Chancellor, and gave General Ludendorff the office of Minister of the Army. On November 9, 1923 the Berlin government declared Hitler’s actions as treason. The army was set into motion against Munich to suppress the Putsch. During a demonstration march through the streets of Munich, Bavarian police and troops acting under the orders of von Kahr, the Prime Minister, broke up the march and aborted the Putsch. Hitler fled, was captured two days later, and stood trial.

By his action, von Kahr had actually double-crossed Hitler, since he had agreed to go with him the evening before. Von Kahr paid with his life for this switch 11 years later. He was found beaten to death in a swamp near Munich as a victim of the Röhm-revolt (Night of the Long Knives) on June 30,1934.

The picture of Hitler on this medal is the first known to have appeared on a medal or coin. The description on the reverse is not flattering to Hitler’s image. Naturally such a creation was very damaging to the artist in and after 1933 when Hitler was in power of all Germany. Goetz’s studio was searched and the models confiscated. Legend has it that Karl Goetz traveled all over Germany in order to get back as many of these medals as he could to destroy them (hence their rarity).



Obverse: Trench-coated Hitler confronts Bavarian Minister-President Ritter von Kahr. “National against National.” Hitler’s name is intentionally misspelled as “Hittler” and the swastika appears counter-clockwise and not in it’s actual clockwise orientation.

Reverse: Munich Feldherrnhalle with sign “Munich Theatre”, sign attached to stage “Nov 9, 1923 Last Performance, Now to Berlin.” Bumbling and dancing soldiers, one with helmet on backward holding a gallows. Peeping from the right curtain is Kahr who is watching a Communist (in Balloon-hat) mock him and the Nazis.

Darkhorse

Awesome. How many pieces do they reckon exists.

cacheman

Don't know.... Few enough though to have this piece selling at $850 a pop.

Darkhorse

Did the seller know anything about the history of this particular medal?

cacheman

do you mean this particular medal's provenance, or it's history in general?

Darkhorse

provenance

cacheman

I'll ask the next time I'm in contact with the seller but I doubt it is anything exciting...outside of the private collector (who usually remains anonymous) there are but a few big sales that are referenced in the Goetz collecting world e.g. Lepczyk #42, Gorny-Mosch #68, and Emporium Hamburg #5...outside of these references you are pretty much kept in the dark. Do you recognize it?

Darkhorse

<< <i>Do you recognize it? >>



Well, in my previous life I was a young girl named Anke who lived in Bremen. Ever year during the schützenmesse my uncle Goran would bring photos and trinkets from all over his travels in Germany and Austria. One year after his second muss of Hofbrau he showed the pins on his Bavarian cap and, I think, this medal. The following year I was in a pony accident and died.

cacheman

cosmicdebris

Looks like they had a great party. They even had midgets for entertainment.

theboz11

And big hands too

wybrit

This story should serve as a reminder of how precious freedom is. Great medal and a nice find, cache.

1jester

Indeed, excellent medal with wonderful, cutting satire. Just the way I like them.

laurentyvan

Very interesting piece of history. Your medal would not be out of place in a world class museum...

Living history presented through tangible items is always very revealing. You'll have all the makings of a beautiful folio or handsome book when you are done. I want to enter an early order but do me a favor and publish soon before I get any greyer.

syraq

I like the look of the German, with the spiky hair,bottom right on the obverse, drinking beer and watching Hitler and Kahr.

Askari

Too funny, DH!





<< <i>They even had midgets for entertainment. >>

... and the socialists are still with us, too ... although the humor of it is beginning to get threadbare. Funny, too, how von Kahr peeking from stage left looks remarkably like "Uncle Joe."

Note also the middle soldier; the "spur" on his boot makes his foot look like a bomb (the sort dropped by hand from airplanes early in WWI).