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Year 11
Edexcel

The Munich Putsch

I can describe the causes, events and consequences of the Munich Putsch.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

The Munich Putsch

I can describe the causes, events and consequences of the Munich Putsch.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The crises leading up to 1923 created a fertile environment for extremism, making rebellion against Weimar more likely.
  2. Inspired by Mussolini’s ‘March on Rome’, Hitler planned to seize Munich, overthrow Weimar and establish Nazi rule.
  3. The putsch collapsed when Bavarian leaders withdrew support, and Hitler’s 2000-strong march was crushed by armed police.
  4. In the short-term, the Nazi Party was banned, Hitler was jailed and many leading Nazis fled.
  5. Hitler gained fame from his trial, wrote ‘My Struggle’ and shifted to a strategy of gaining power legally.

Keywords

  • Fascist - supports a system based on a very powerful leader, state control and being extremely proud of country and race, and, in which, political opposition is not allowed

  • Putsch - a sudden and often violent attempt to overthrow a government, usually carried out by a small group

  • Bavarian - related to Bavaria, a state in southern Germany, which had its own local government based in Munich, the state capital

  • 'My Struggle' - the English translation of 'Mein Kampf', a book written by Hitler while in prison, in which he outlined his life story, political beliefs and plans for Germany’s future

Common misconception

The Munich Putsch was an immediate success, leading to Hitler’s rise to power.

The Munich Putsch was a failure in the short-term - Hitler was arrested and the Nazi Party was banned. However, in the long-term, the event gave Hitler national attention and led him to change his strategy, focusing on gaining power legally.


To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Munich Putsch, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Provide short extracts from 'Mein Kampf' (simplified if needed) so pupils can analyse how Hitler’s ideas changed after the putsch and how he planned to gain power differently. Discuss the dangers of his new approach.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence with the correct missing word: One reason Hitler moved from to Germany in 1913 was that he saw himself as German.
Correct Answer: Austria, Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire
Q2.
Why did Hitler initially attend meetings of the German Workers’ Party (DAP)?
He accidentally attended a meeting while looking for .
He wanted to promote democracy and liberal ideas.
Correct answer: He was assigned by the army to investigate the group.
He was invited by Anton Drexler to attend.
Q3.
How did Hitler use propaganda to expand the Nazi Party?
by banning all newspapers that opposed the Nazis
by focusing only on economic policies for workers
Correct answer: by using speeches, symbols and media to spread Nazi ideology
Q4.
Match each Nazi leader with their role in the early Nazi Party.
Correct Answer:Anton Drexler,founder of the DAP

founder of the DAP

Correct Answer:Hermann Göring,head of the SA

head of the SA

Correct Answer:Rudolf Hess,oversaw fundraising and administration

oversaw fundraising and administration

Q5.
What was one of the main purposes of the SA (Sturmabteilung)?
Correct answer: to attack political opponents and protect Nazi meetings
to peacefully campaign for democracy
to take over the German military
Q6.
Which of the following were key messages in Hitler’s speeches?
Communism was the best path forward.
Correct answer: Germany had been betrayed by weak politicians and Jews.
Correct answer: Germany needed a strong and unified nation.
The Treaty of Versailles should be defended.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What crises in 1923 contributed to the Munich Putsch?
Correct answer: hyperinflation
Correct answer: Ruhr occupation
the formation of the Nazi Party
the Wall Street Crash
Q2.
Complete the sentence with the correct missing word: Hitler was inspired by the Italian dictator Benito , whose followers had staged a ‘March on Rome’.
Correct Answer: Mussolini
Q3.
What does the term ‘putsch’ mean?
an attempt to agree a peace treaty
Correct answer: an attempt to overthrow the government
an attempt to reform the government
Q4.
Starting with the earliest, sort these events into chronological order.
1 - Occupation of the Ruhr
2 - Hitler and the SA stormed a beer hall
3 - The putschists marched through Munich
4 - Hitler was arrested
Q5.
Why did the Munich Putsch fail?
Correct answer: The Bavarian leaders withdrew their support.
The German army joined Hitler’s side.
The Nazis had superior weapons and numbers.
Q6.
Why was Hitler’s trial held in Munich instead of another city?
Correct answer: Bavarian authorities wanted to control the outcome and hide their involvement.
Hitler requested to be tried in his hometown.
The trial had to take place where the crime was committed.

Additional material

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