22. Munich, Monument of Remembrance in the Feldherrnhalle.

The Feldherrnhalle (Hall of Heroes) in the centre of Munich stands as a memorial to Germany’s past military heroes. It was here on 1 August 1914 before the Feldherrnhalle that Adolf Hitler amidst a large crowd witnessed the German declaration of war. Two days later, on 3 August, Hitler joined the 1st Company, 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, (also known as the List Regiment). Hitler served with distinction during the First World War winning the Iron Cross both First and Second Class; no mean feat for an ordinary soldier.

This postcard shows the bronze memorial plaque erected by the Nazis on the side of the Feldherrnhalle overlooking Residenzstrasse. It was placed there in honour of the sixteen comrades killed in a skirmish with police during the Putsch of 9 November 1923; effectively this encounter close to the Feldherrnhalle stopped the revolt in its tracks. Adolf Hitler unveiled this plaque during a remembrance ceremony on 9 November 1933. This important Nazi monument always had two police officers, or in this instance two SS men present as a guard of honour. Passers-by were required to give the Nazi salute.

After the Nazis came to power in 1933 a commemorative march took place through Munich on 9 November each year to honour the memory and sacrifice of those sixteen fallen comrades. The names of those killed during the event are as follows: Felix Allfarth, Andreas Bauriedl, Theodor Casella, Wilhelm Ehrlich, Martin Faust, Anton Hechenberger, Oskar Körner, Karl Kuhn, Carl Laforce, Karl Neubauer, Klaus Maximilian von Pape, Theodor von der Pfordten, Johann Rickmers, Dr Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter, Lorenz Ritter von Stransky-Griffenfeld, Wilhelm Wolf.