And now, number three...the Larch--a.k.a. Ruminations about the Beer hall Putsch, and a certain Businessman...

 

by the bye...I think that alec baldwin's comical interpretation here is totally great.

First, the Beer  hall Putsch--

And foremost, a failed coup d'etat.  Now I am not the only person, I am sure, to say this.  Obviously, but the Putsch reminds me of recent, very recent, events with THAT MAN.  Yes, I mean Donald Trump.  Ewwww.  I actually wrote that name.  Ooops, have I betrayed my political leanings?  Oh well, c'est la vie!

If you're still reading, then allow me to share a minor epiphany I had recently.  Now, as I said previously, this thought has most likely occurred to others--but this is my little private space on the internet, so I can write what I wish!

Okay.  back to history.

November 9, 1923.

The German Weimar Republic is in power.  World War 1 had just finished, and Germany had to pay reparations (in the multiple millions...that's billions of dollars...with a "b") to the Allied states, namely France and England, as punishment for the damage they'd inflicted in terms of infrastructure destruction, but more importantly, in terms of the needless loss of life of their young men.  For France, the number of dead was in the milliions.  

The fledgling republic was weak, and stayed that way, throughout its all too brief tenure.  As Germany began to try and make the reparation payments, they also tried to get back on their feet industrially.  Now, this was virtually impossible, because of France's occupation of Germany's prime industrial real estate.  With France's soldiers firmly established in this region, you can imagine what happens next:  France got richer, and the German economy became increasingly weak and precarious.

The treaty that ended World War I, was the chief reason for these events.  It was called the "stab in the back treaty" by German veterans.  Including a young Adolf Hitler.  Because the treaty was so lopsided, the Germans complained, our economy began to suffer.  The veterans, of course, began to organize in the beer halls of Munich, and speak about their hatred of both France and England.  These countries were to blame, the veterans said, these countries were out for the destruction of Germany--all of it, including the culture.  Now, while this wasn't true, many many Germans believed it to be true.  'We must protect our way of life!' they screamed.  And when these emerging angry men emerged from the wood work in Germany, they began to join with other disaffected people.  Soon, a healthy grass roots movement had begun.

But you have to also understand, that part of their anger against the Treaty of Versailles, was rooted in fact.  The treaty did in fact deal out an unjust 'punishment' to Germany.  With the country in tatters, and trench lines criss-crossing the countryside, the German Republic did't have a chance.  Inflation in Germany was so bad, in fact, that common everyday household objects could cost in the tens of thousands (and in some cases, millions.

To give you some perspective, economically, here are some items, and what they cost in German marks:

In January of 1923, one loaf of bread cost 250 marks.  by November 1923, the price was 300,000.  OMG.

But what did it cost in terms of American dollars today? Okay.  Let's figure it out:

A loaf of bread, at 250 marks, was actually worth 0,0001 to the American penny.

By November, 1923, you could buy a loaf of bread for 300,000,000.

In Germany, by November, 1923, the German mark was worth approximately 0000001  us $

So, basically worthless.  So, how did people even eat?  

Yeah, I don't know.  But a tragic time for Germany folks.  A most difficult moment.  But, what was Germany to do?  How could they even pay off their debt to the former Allied powers, when their currency was flushed down the toilet? 

To fix the problem, many Germans felt that a changing of the guard in their government would be a good idea.  But to what?  There were only two real choices, as Germany faced the end of an impoverished decade:  the Socialists, or the far far far far right, ULTRA CONSERVATIVE, the Nazis.  They were a small party, but they were growing in popularity...a true grassroots movement.  What I find ever amusing, is their name:  The National Socialist Party.  Gag.  

But, I get ahead of myself.  What I am trying laboriously to convey, is that most Germans throughout the 1920s felt that a changing of the guard was necessary.  A strong government, energetic in its' policies was necessary.  But who?  How? No one knew anything really, except that they couldn't afford either a hotel room, or a can of beans.  Well shit--they were starving!

Hitler had also quietly earned the backing of the Industrialists (some actually) and the old nobility from the previous regime that had died at the dawn of the 20th century.  

So! with the help of propaganda like this

SLOGAN ON POSTER  “The German student is fighting for the Führer and the People.” (1936)!!!!!!! This, of course, is followed by an image of an Adonis like figure, dressed in Nazi Uniform, and holding a Nazi Flag.  Did I forget to mention the impossibly blond hair and blue eyes?  Gag.

(I'd show you a picture, but I am having trouble with uploading pictures from the internet.  Sorry!)

So! with the help of the people, a few industrialists and nobility, and Hitler's popularity grew and grew. 

That was true until november 8 1923, when Hitler and his buddies--Erich Ludendorff and other freaks decided to initiate a coup d'etat, believing that if the leadership of the republic was caught, then he would be able to call on the people for help, and complete the takeover of the government.

Not the most well thought out plan, eh? 

Approximately 2,000 Nazis marched on the Feldernhalle--where members of the republican government were meeting.  But, the "soldiers" for Hitler was met with a police barricade.  This ultimately resulted in the deaths of some 16 party members (Nazi, that is).  Perhaps as many as four policemen lost their lives as well.

Hitler escaped the scene, but was found by the police two days later, and was arrested.  In a subsequent trial, that lasted for almost 25 days, Hitler was ultimately found guilty of treason against the state, and was then sentenced to five years in Landsberg prison.  Hitler only served 9 months of his sentence, when he was released.  

While he was in prison, Hitler was sent 'presents' by mysterious (very wealthy) supporters, so his incarceration was incredibly luxurious, given where he was.  I feel sorry for the other poor bastards in the prison, who did not share in the caviar and champagne.  While he was 'vacationing', Hitler dictated his "magnum opus" (gods.  his 'great work'--can I vomit now?) Mein Kampf.  My Struggle, or something close to that.  Therein, Hitler laid out his plan for world domination--he said that the German, or Teutonic people needed Lebensraum--"living space."  In order to fulfill their destiny, they had to carry out a series of proscriptions, in order to 'perfect' the human race.  Yeah, sure.  Let's perfect by murdering multiple thousands of people.  Also in this book, Hitler points to other marginalized groups in Europe--gypsies, Jesuits, Jehova Witnesses, gays, and of course, Jews, and writes that they must be purged from the mainstream of European society.  So, you see Dear Reader, it wasn't just the Jewish nation that was at the center of Hitler's hatred.  These other groups were targeted as well.  And, there were others:  those suffering from terminal diseases, and were living in the various asylums.  Anyone found to be weak;  anyone found in any way to be 'abnormal' (please supply the convenient definition here), was quietly murdered or sent to the concentration camps.

Now all of this we know.  Why am I telling you about this?  Look at the story again, and then contemplate how Donald Trump is now being investigated by congress and the FBI, and, well, just about everyone.  On occasion, you can also find Agents Mulder and Scully, for it is certain, that Trump is so strange his antics just have to be part of an X file!! : )

The coolest dynamic duo ever.

Let us move onto the Beerhall Putsch.  Does this ring any similar bells?  How about January 6th of this year?  Is it at all possible that we can apply some historical precedent to what is going on with Trump now?  My idea is this:  that he'll be made into a martyr by the radical Right Wing in this country, if he is sent to prison for his billion and five crimes.  And, has anyone except me wondered what would happen IF he runs for president again?  He legally could.  And if he did, then what?

What happens if Trump is made into a martyr by the right?  This is the question that keeps me up at night, Dear Reader.