Munich in the Third Reicht

Munich Pop History Day 7: Konigsplatz, although built by crown prince Ludwig, was one of the greatest propaganda backdrops for Hitler and the Nazi party (This site is a must see for images of Nazi Munich). The Nazi party was started in Munich’s Maxvorstadt neighborhood, after a long period of food and fuel shortages in Germany. Hitler captured the unrest in a hotbed of of right wing movements that led to the 1923 Beer Hall Putch, an attempt to overthrow the government and seize power. 10 years later, the NSDAP headquarters took over a building one block from Konigsplatz, which are today used as a Music school. These buildings, are hopefully all that’s left of a movement that led to more than 50 million being killed during WWII. As the Nazi headquarters, the city was hard hit during the allied raids – more than 71 air raids over six years. You walk around this peaceful and quiet neighborhood, and it’s hard to believe. Nearly 80 years later, and very little has been forgotten here in Munich. Germans, by and large, hold the guilt for past events; and neighboring countries hold Germany to blame for unspeakable crimes. And yet, the city changes. Last year, a $17M Jewish museum opened in the Altstadt, and recently a documentation center opened to help people understand Munich’s past. The journey continues…