Der Fuehrer - Hitler's Rise to Power (1944) - Heiden

THE BEER HALL PUTSCH 187Hitler jumped on a chair, while his men set up a machine gun at theentrance to the hall; he fired a pistol at the ceiling, jumped down, andthrough the sudden silence strode to the platform. A stony-faced policemajor, his hands in his pockets, barred the way. Hitler, fearing a shotthrough the coat, quickly set his gun at the man's head, and screamed:'Take your hands out of your pockets!' Another police officer pulled hisarm away, but Hitler freed himself and mounted the platform whereKahr, pale and confused, had taken a few steps backward. Hitler criedout to the audience: 'The national revolution has begun. The building isoccupied by six hundred heavily armed men. No one may leave the hall.Unless there is immediate quiet, I'll have a machine gun placed in thegallery. The Reichswehr and police barracks have been occupied,Reichswehr and police are marching on the city under the swastikabanner.' Of this last, not a word was true.According to a witness, Hitler had the 'expression of a madman.' Hisnerves were apparently unequal to the excitement. On this point nearlyall who saw him that night were agreed. In a loud, raucous voice, heordered Kahr, Lossow, and Seisser to follow him. A voice in the crowdcried out: 'Don't be cowards as in 1918. Shoot!' Little prevented Hitlerand his men from being trampled to death by the crowd. Kahr washelpless. Lossow, who knew what a machine gun meant, held resistanceto be useless. He whispered to Seisser — as both he and Seisser laterstated: 'Put on an act!' Siesser passed the word to Kahr; amid thiswhispering they disappeared from the hall, led away as prisoners by thestorm troopers.What if they had refused? Today we know that Hitler's putsch wouldhave instantly collapsed. But the three men were not so clear about thesituation. Hitler's assertion that the Reichswehr had risen and joined himwith cheers could have been true or false. Lossow, doubtless seethingwith rage and shame, held outward compliance to be the only way ofgaining time and freedom of action.The crowd in the hall was not so docile. Hitler left the hall with hisprisoners and a sullen murmur arose. The mood grew menacing. 'Don'tworry,' Goring shouted in a voice of thunder, 'we have the friendliestintentions, and anyway, you can be happy, you have your beer.'