THE MUNICH TRIAL

How von Kahr let go of the conspirators after encouraging them

Munich, March 11. Finally here is the former dictator von Kahr before the judges; not as an accused, as he should be, but as a simple witness. However, as an investigation has been opened against him, he does not take the oath. However, he assures, hand on his chest, that he will only tell the truth.

Pressure on Berlin

Bavaria, he said, had a duty to overthrow state authority and, in nationalist circles, it was felt that this could only be done by transforming the Empire's government and creating a dictatorial force placed above all political parties.

But, he asserts with some vehemence, we had never thought of a military expedition for this reason; we only had in mind strong political pressure on the government in Berlin.

But not a walk

On the other hand, the adherents of Hitler's party, whose numbers were growing considerably in Bavaria, considered that the program could only be resolved by force and by the creation of an ultra-nationalist Hitler-Ludendorff dictatorship, that von Kahr, Seisser and von Lossow considered it disastrous.

A march on Berlin, says Mr. de Kahr, would have provoked military action by France and an invasion by Poland and Czecho-Slovakia of Germany; our disarmed country would have been defeated in this new conflict. Furthermore, a march on Berlin would have had no chance of success, even if the Bavarian police and Reichswehr had participated. The so-called national army raised by the combat associations lacked any equipment, weapons and ammunition.

A pig's trick

It then moves on to the events of November 9 and the Burgerbraü meeting. When he saw Hitler enter the room, revolver in hand, Mr. von Kahr slipped towards MM. by Lossow and Seisser:

The police, he said, played a dirty trick on us by allowing these individuals to enter here. Let's try to get out of this mess. Let's play comedy.

Thus, forced by circumstances, he would have promised his assistance to Hitler without having the intention of keeping his promise. As soon as he was free, he went to a tavern where he found MM. von Lossow and Seisser and he took, in concert with them, all measures to reduce and disarm the conspirators.

When the hearing resumes at 3 a.m., the hearing is closed at the request of the public prosecutor.