Hans Ritter von Seisser

Who was Hans Ritter von Seisser?

Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser was the head of the Bavarian State Police in 1923.

In September 1923, following a period of turmoil and political violence, Prime Minister Eugen von Knilling declared martial law and appointed Gustav von Kahr, Staatskomissar, with dictatorial powers. Together with Seisser, and Reichswehr General Otto von Lossow, they formed a right-wing triumvirate in Bavaria.

That year, many right-wing groups wanted to emulate Mussolini's "March on Rome" by a "March on Berlin". Among these were the wartime General Erich Ludendorff and also the Nazi group, led by Adolf Hitler. Hitler decided to try to seize power in what was later known as the "Hitler Putsch" or Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler and Ludendorff sought the support of the "triumvirate". However, Kahr, Seisser and Lossow had their own plan to install a nationalist dictatorship without Hitler.

Hitler was determined to act before the appeal of his agitation waned. So on November 8, 1923, Hitler and the SA stormed a public meeting of 3,000 people which had been organized by Kahr in the Bürgerbräukeller, a large beer hall in Munich.