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Goetz Medal - 1923 Hitler Putsch in Munich
Zohar
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The background to this medal has major implications concerning 20th century European and World history. The "Beer Hall Putsch" was a failed attempt at revolution that occurred between the evening of 8 November and the early afternoon of 9 November 1923, when Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, Generalquartiermeister Erich Ludendorff, and other heads of the league of fighting societies unsuccessfully tried to seize power in Munich, Bavaria and Germany. Beer halls in the early 20th century existed in most larger southern German cities, where hundreds or even thousands of people were able to gather during the evenings, drink beer and often engage in political or social debate. They were also places where political rallies could be held, a tradition still alive today. One of the largest beer halls in Munich was the "Bürgerbräukeller", where the Beer Hall Putsch was launched.
Description of Goetz's Medal - Source: Scott Goodman (Cacheman) site:
1923, Cast bronze, Satirical medal, 58.0mm, 67.00g., Edge-punched, "KGoeTz".
Obverse: Hitler is shown mounting the stage, with gun in hand, to where von Kahr is making a speech and then pushing the Bavarian Commissioner aside. A Munich citizen sits in the foreground drinking beer. To the left of Hitler is a backward swastika. Below, Hittler Putsch" (Hitler Coup). Rim inscription, "National gen National" (Nationalist against Nationalist). Dated November 8, 1923. KG bisected by poster.
Reverse: Three dwarf Nazis on the stage of the Munich Theater; one carries a gallow, one a Nazi flag with backward swastika, and the third, raising his right hand in a feigned Nazi salute and his right foot, with boot and spur, resembling an aerial bomb. Behind the curtain is von Kahr with a cannon. Between the two parties a Social Democrat joyfully dances and points to the two participants, the Nazi's and von Kahr. Inscription on poster below, "Etzte Vorstellung - Auf nach Berlin" (Last Performance - On To Berlin). Dated, November 9, 1923.
The image 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. Additionally, lampooning Nazi's as dwarves, backward swastikas, and the intentional misspelling of Hitler's name made such a creation potentially very damaging to Goetz in, and after, 1933 when Hitler was in complete power of Germany. Legend has it that Karl Goetz traveled all over Germany in order to purchase back as many of these medals as he could in order to destroy them. Hence their rarity.
Historical Background
In the fall of 1922, the Germans asked the Allies for a moratorium on the World War I reparations payments that they were required to pay according to the Versailles Treaty. The French government refused the request and then occupied the Ruhr, the integral industrial area of Germany, when the Germans defaulted on their payments. The French occupation of German land united the German people to act. So the French would not benefit from the land they occupied, German workers in the area staged a general strike. The German government supported the strike by giving workers financial support.
During this time, inflation had increased exponentially within Germany and created a growing concern over the Weimar Republic's capability to govern Germany. In August 1923, Gustav Stresemann became Chancellor of Germany. Only a month after taking office, he ordered the end of the general strike in the Ruhr and decided to pay reparations to France. Rightfully believing that there would be anger and revolts within Germany to his announcement, Stresemann had President Ebert declare a state of emergency. The Bavarian government was unhappy with Stresemann's capitulation and declared its own state of emergency on the same day as Stresemann's announcement, September 26. Bavaria was then ruled by a triumvirate (group of three) which consisted of Generalkommissar Gustav von Kahr, General Otto von Lossow (commander of the army in Bavaria), and Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser (commander of the state police). Though the triumvirate had ignored and even defied several orders that were directly from Berlin, by the end of October 1923 it seemed that the triumvirate was losing heart. They had wanted to protest, but not if it were to destroy them. Adolf Hitler believed it was time to take action.
It is still debated who actually came up with the plan to kidnap the triumvirate -- some say Alfred Rosenberg, some say Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter, while still others say Hitler himself. The original plan was to capture the triumvirate on the German Memorial Day on November 4, 1923. Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser would be on a stand, taking the salute from the troops during a parade. The plan was to arrive on the street before the troops arrived, shut off the street by setting up machine guns, and then get the triumvirate to join Hitler in the "revolution." The plan was foiled when it was discovered (the day of the parade) that the parade street was well protected by police. They needed another plan. This time, they were going to march into Munich and seize its strategic points on November 11, 1923 (the anniversary of the armistice). However, this plan was scrapped when Hitler heard about Kahr's meeting. Kahr called a meeting of approximately three thousand government officials on November 8 at the Buergerbräukeller (a beer hall). Since the entire triumvirate would be there, Hitler could force them at gun-point to join him.
The Putsch
Around eight o'clock, Hitler arrived at the Buergerbräukeller in a red Mercedes Benz accompanied by Rosenberg, Ulrich Graf (Hitler's bodyguard), and Anton Drexler. The meeting had already started and Kahr was speaking. Sometime between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m., Hitler heard the sound of trucks. As Hitler burst into the crowded beer hall, his armed storm troopers surrounded the hall and set up a machine gun in the entrance. To grab everyone's attention, Hitler jumped onto a table and fired one or two shots into the ceiling. With some help, Hitler then forced his way to the platform. "The National Revolution has begun!" Hitler shouted. Hitler continued with a few exaggerations and lies stating that there were six hundred armed men surrounding the beer hall, the Bavarian and the national governments had been taken over, the barracks of the army and police were occupied, and that they were already marching under the swastika flag. Hitler then ordered Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser to accompany him into a side private room.
What exactly went on in that room in sketchy. Hitler waved his revolver at the triumvirate and then told each of them what their positions would be within his new government. They didn't answer him. Hitler even threatened to shoot them and then himself. To prove his point, Hitler held the revolver to his own head. During this time, Scheubner-Richter had taken the Mercedes to fetch General Erich Ludendorff who had not been privy to the plan. Hitler left the private room and again took the podium. In his speech, he insinuated that Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser had already agreed to join. The crowd cheered. By this time, Ludendorff had arrived. Though he was upset that he had not been informed and that he was not to be the leader of the new government, he went to talk to the triumvirate anyway. The triumvirate then hesitantly agreed to join because of the great esteem they held for Ludendorff. Each one then went onto the platform and made a short speech. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, so Hitler left the beer hall for a short time to personally deal with a clash between his armed men, leaving Ludendorff in charge.
The Downfall
When Hitler came back to the beer hall, he found that all three of the triumvirate had left. Each one was quickly denouncing the affiliation that they made at gun-point and was working to put down the putsch. Without the support of the triumvirate, Hitler's plan had failed. He knew he did not have enough armed men to compete against an entire army. Ludendorff came up with a plan. He and Hitler would lead a column of storm troopers into the center of Munich and thus would take control of the city. Ludendorff was confident that no one in the army would fire upon the legendary general (himself). Desperate for a solution, Hitler agreed to the plan. Around eleven o'clock in the morning on November 9, approximately three thousand storm troopers followed Hitler and Ludendorff on their way to the center of Munich. They met up with a group of police who let them pass after having been given an ultimatum by Goering that if they were not allowed to pass, hostages would be shot. Then the column arrived at the narrow Residenzstrasse. At the other end of the street, a large group of police waited. Hitler was in the front with his left arm linked with the right arm of Scheubner-Richter. Graf shouted to the police to inform them that Ludendorff was present.
Then a shot rang out. No one is sure which side fired the first shot. Scheubner-Richter was one of the first to be hit. Mortally wounded and with his arm linked with Hitler, Hitler went down too. The fall dislocated Hitler's shoulder. Some say that Hitler thought he had been hit. The shooting lasted approximately sixty seconds. Ludendorff kept walking. As everyone else fell to the ground or sought cover, Ludendorff defiantly marched straight ahead. He and his adjutant, Major Streck, marched right through the line of police. He was very angry that no one had followed him. He was later arrested by the police. Goering had been wounded in the groin. After some initial first aid, he was spirited off and smuggled into Austria. Hess also fled to Austria. Roehm surrendered. Hitler, though not really wounded, was one of the first to leave. He crawled and then ran to an awaiting car. He was taken to the home of the Hanfstaengls where he was hysterical and depressed. He had fled while his comrades lay wounded and dying in the street. Two days later, Hitler was arrested. According to different reports, between fourteen and sixteen Nazis and three policemen died during the failed Putsch. By his actions, von Kahr had actually double-crossed Hitler since he had agreed to go with him the evening before. Eleven years later Von Kahr paid with his life for this switch. He was found beaten to death in a swamp near Munich as a victim of the Röhm-revolt in 1934.
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 Prime Minister von Kahr, broke up the march and aborted the Putsch. Hitler fled, was captured two days later, and stood trial. Some of his fellow conspirators were arrested while others escaped to Austria (Hermann Göring, Ernst Hanfstaengl, Rudolf Hess). The Nazi Party headquarters were raided, and its newspaper, the Völkischer Beobachter (The People's Observer), was banned. Hitler moderated his tone for the trial, centring his defence on his selfless devotion to the good of the Volk and the need for bold action to save them, dropping his usual anti-Semitism. He claimed the putsch had been his sole responsibility and inspiring the title Fuhrer. Hitler and Hess were both sentenced to five years in Festungshaft (literally fortress confinement--imprisonment) for treason. Festungshaft was a type of jail that excluded forced labour, featured reasonably comfortable cells, and allowed the prisoner to receive visitors almost daily for many hours. It was the customary sentence for people whom the judge believed to have had honourable but misguided motives.
These events were the trigger for Hitler's subsequent popularity and ascent to power in 1933 leading to World War II.
Description of Goetz's Medal - Source: Scott Goodman (Cacheman) site:
1923, Cast bronze, Satirical medal, 58.0mm, 67.00g., Edge-punched, "KGoeTz".
Obverse: Hitler is shown mounting the stage, with gun in hand, to where von Kahr is making a speech and then pushing the Bavarian Commissioner aside. A Munich citizen sits in the foreground drinking beer. To the left of Hitler is a backward swastika. Below, Hittler Putsch" (Hitler Coup). Rim inscription, "National gen National" (Nationalist against Nationalist). Dated November 8, 1923. KG bisected by poster.
Reverse: Three dwarf Nazis on the stage of the Munich Theater; one carries a gallow, one a Nazi flag with backward swastika, and the third, raising his right hand in a feigned Nazi salute and his right foot, with boot and spur, resembling an aerial bomb. Behind the curtain is von Kahr with a cannon. Between the two parties a Social Democrat joyfully dances and points to the two participants, the Nazi's and von Kahr. Inscription on poster below, "Etzte Vorstellung - Auf nach Berlin" (Last Performance - On To Berlin). Dated, November 9, 1923.
The image 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. Additionally, lampooning Nazi's as dwarves, backward swastikas, and the intentional misspelling of Hitler's name made such a creation potentially very damaging to Goetz in, and after, 1933 when Hitler was in complete power of Germany. Legend has it that Karl Goetz traveled all over Germany in order to purchase back as many of these medals as he could in order to destroy them. Hence their rarity.
Historical Background
In the fall of 1922, the Germans asked the Allies for a moratorium on the World War I reparations payments that they were required to pay according to the Versailles Treaty. The French government refused the request and then occupied the Ruhr, the integral industrial area of Germany, when the Germans defaulted on their payments. The French occupation of German land united the German people to act. So the French would not benefit from the land they occupied, German workers in the area staged a general strike. The German government supported the strike by giving workers financial support.
During this time, inflation had increased exponentially within Germany and created a growing concern over the Weimar Republic's capability to govern Germany. In August 1923, Gustav Stresemann became Chancellor of Germany. Only a month after taking office, he ordered the end of the general strike in the Ruhr and decided to pay reparations to France. Rightfully believing that there would be anger and revolts within Germany to his announcement, Stresemann had President Ebert declare a state of emergency. The Bavarian government was unhappy with Stresemann's capitulation and declared its own state of emergency on the same day as Stresemann's announcement, September 26. Bavaria was then ruled by a triumvirate (group of three) which consisted of Generalkommissar Gustav von Kahr, General Otto von Lossow (commander of the army in Bavaria), and Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser (commander of the state police). Though the triumvirate had ignored and even defied several orders that were directly from Berlin, by the end of October 1923 it seemed that the triumvirate was losing heart. They had wanted to protest, but not if it were to destroy them. Adolf Hitler believed it was time to take action.
It is still debated who actually came up with the plan to kidnap the triumvirate -- some say Alfred Rosenberg, some say Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter, while still others say Hitler himself. The original plan was to capture the triumvirate on the German Memorial Day on November 4, 1923. Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser would be on a stand, taking the salute from the troops during a parade. The plan was to arrive on the street before the troops arrived, shut off the street by setting up machine guns, and then get the triumvirate to join Hitler in the "revolution." The plan was foiled when it was discovered (the day of the parade) that the parade street was well protected by police. They needed another plan. This time, they were going to march into Munich and seize its strategic points on November 11, 1923 (the anniversary of the armistice). However, this plan was scrapped when Hitler heard about Kahr's meeting. Kahr called a meeting of approximately three thousand government officials on November 8 at the Buergerbräukeller (a beer hall). Since the entire triumvirate would be there, Hitler could force them at gun-point to join him.
The Putsch
Around eight o'clock, Hitler arrived at the Buergerbräukeller in a red Mercedes Benz accompanied by Rosenberg, Ulrich Graf (Hitler's bodyguard), and Anton Drexler. The meeting had already started and Kahr was speaking. Sometime between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m., Hitler heard the sound of trucks. As Hitler burst into the crowded beer hall, his armed storm troopers surrounded the hall and set up a machine gun in the entrance. To grab everyone's attention, Hitler jumped onto a table and fired one or two shots into the ceiling. With some help, Hitler then forced his way to the platform. "The National Revolution has begun!" Hitler shouted. Hitler continued with a few exaggerations and lies stating that there were six hundred armed men surrounding the beer hall, the Bavarian and the national governments had been taken over, the barracks of the army and police were occupied, and that they were already marching under the swastika flag. Hitler then ordered Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser to accompany him into a side private room.
What exactly went on in that room in sketchy. Hitler waved his revolver at the triumvirate and then told each of them what their positions would be within his new government. They didn't answer him. Hitler even threatened to shoot them and then himself. To prove his point, Hitler held the revolver to his own head. During this time, Scheubner-Richter had taken the Mercedes to fetch General Erich Ludendorff who had not been privy to the plan. Hitler left the private room and again took the podium. In his speech, he insinuated that Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser had already agreed to join. The crowd cheered. By this time, Ludendorff had arrived. Though he was upset that he had not been informed and that he was not to be the leader of the new government, he went to talk to the triumvirate anyway. The triumvirate then hesitantly agreed to join because of the great esteem they held for Ludendorff. Each one then went onto the platform and made a short speech. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, so Hitler left the beer hall for a short time to personally deal with a clash between his armed men, leaving Ludendorff in charge.
The Downfall
When Hitler came back to the beer hall, he found that all three of the triumvirate had left. Each one was quickly denouncing the affiliation that they made at gun-point and was working to put down the putsch. Without the support of the triumvirate, Hitler's plan had failed. He knew he did not have enough armed men to compete against an entire army. Ludendorff came up with a plan. He and Hitler would lead a column of storm troopers into the center of Munich and thus would take control of the city. Ludendorff was confident that no one in the army would fire upon the legendary general (himself). Desperate for a solution, Hitler agreed to the plan. Around eleven o'clock in the morning on November 9, approximately three thousand storm troopers followed Hitler and Ludendorff on their way to the center of Munich. They met up with a group of police who let them pass after having been given an ultimatum by Goering that if they were not allowed to pass, hostages would be shot. Then the column arrived at the narrow Residenzstrasse. At the other end of the street, a large group of police waited. Hitler was in the front with his left arm linked with the right arm of Scheubner-Richter. Graf shouted to the police to inform them that Ludendorff was present.
Then a shot rang out. No one is sure which side fired the first shot. Scheubner-Richter was one of the first to be hit. Mortally wounded and with his arm linked with Hitler, Hitler went down too. The fall dislocated Hitler's shoulder. Some say that Hitler thought he had been hit. The shooting lasted approximately sixty seconds. Ludendorff kept walking. As everyone else fell to the ground or sought cover, Ludendorff defiantly marched straight ahead. He and his adjutant, Major Streck, marched right through the line of police. He was very angry that no one had followed him. He was later arrested by the police. Goering had been wounded in the groin. After some initial first aid, he was spirited off and smuggled into Austria. Hess also fled to Austria. Roehm surrendered. Hitler, though not really wounded, was one of the first to leave. He crawled and then ran to an awaiting car. He was taken to the home of the Hanfstaengls where he was hysterical and depressed. He had fled while his comrades lay wounded and dying in the street. Two days later, Hitler was arrested. According to different reports, between fourteen and sixteen Nazis and three policemen died during the failed Putsch. By his actions, von Kahr had actually double-crossed Hitler since he had agreed to go with him the evening before. Eleven years later Von Kahr paid with his life for this switch. He was found beaten to death in a swamp near Munich as a victim of the Röhm-revolt in 1934.
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 Prime Minister von Kahr, broke up the march and aborted the Putsch. Hitler fled, was captured two days later, and stood trial. Some of his fellow conspirators were arrested while others escaped to Austria (Hermann Göring, Ernst Hanfstaengl, Rudolf Hess). The Nazi Party headquarters were raided, and its newspaper, the Völkischer Beobachter (The People's Observer), was banned. Hitler moderated his tone for the trial, centring his defence on his selfless devotion to the good of the Volk and the need for bold action to save them, dropping his usual anti-Semitism. He claimed the putsch had been his sole responsibility and inspiring the title Fuhrer. Hitler and Hess were both sentenced to five years in Festungshaft (literally fortress confinement--imprisonment) for treason. Festungshaft was a type of jail that excluded forced labour, featured reasonably comfortable cells, and allowed the prisoner to receive visitors almost daily for many hours. It was the customary sentence for people whom the judge believed to have had honourable but misguided motives.
These events were the trigger for Hitler's subsequent popularity and ascent to power in 1933 leading to World War II.
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Comments
<< <i>A touchy subject, but I enjoyed viewing this. Coincidentally I am reading the diary of a German reporter that was in Berlin when the war came to a close with the Russian invasion. >>
This one?
A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City
Is it any good?
(Just think of city streets clogged with a hundred thousand horses each generating 15 lbs of manure every day...)
<< <i>
<< <i>A touchy subject, but I enjoyed viewing this. Coincidentally I am reading the diary of a German reporter that was in Berlin when the war came to a close with the Russian invasion. >>
This one?
A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City
Is it any good? >>
It is good, because the author seems to separate herself from the standard prejudices you would expect, but then again she had travelled in the Soviet Union and learned Russian prior to the war. There are also interesting comments drawn from her neighbours like "Too bad "his" mother didn't have a miscarriage" in reference to Hitler while discussing all the miscarriages that were happening because of the Battle of Berlin.
<< <i>The background to this medal has major implications concerning 20th century European and World history. >>
Indeed it does.
<< <i>A touchy subject, but I enjoyed viewing this. Coincidentally I am reading the diary of a German reporter that was in Berlin when the war came to a close with the Russian invasion. >>
SaorAlba, you speak Russian, don't you? If you're interested in Russian history, check this out: Lenin and Parvus Not sure if you've seen this documentary before, but I found this information to be pretty interesting and not something that's widely talked about in Russia.
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