Hitler and his supporters were arrested for trying to overthrow the Republican Government of German Reich. They were produced in Munich court on 26 February, 1924. The trial lasted for 24 days. Hitler was sentenced to five years in jail to be kept in Landsberg Amlek Fort.
Before the judge Hitler admitted trying to overthrow the government. He was not sorry for it. He levelled serious charges on the Republican Government of betraying the German nations.
He said that they could have won the 1914-18 World War but the traitors taking cover of Socialism demoralised the soldiers. At a crucial time strike was organised in ordnance factories. Versai treaty was signed putting the Germans to shame. German empire got destroyed. Every condition put by France was accepted. The government agreed to pay staggering war damages to the enemies.
From where Germany would pay that much damages and for how long? We took to arms just to get rid of those national liabilities. We want to destroy that system which is paying with the honour and the prestige of our nation. Whatever the punishment we are ready to take, he spoke.
The sentence of Hitler was published in the following day newspapers. The people did not like it. The admirers prayed for the remission of Hitler’s sentence.
The judges appeared to be impressed by the speech made by Hitler in his defence. To them he sounded like a nationalist patriot who cared for his country and wanted to do something for it in whatever way possible. It was for this reason perhaps that after nine months of prison term he was ordered to be released.
During the nine month prison life Hitler wrote his autobiography which included his thoughts and ideology also. The German version (original) was printed soon after. Sometime later, it got published in other languages too including English.
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