Where National Socialism Began
Munich was the birthplace of the Nazi movement — the city where Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party in 1919, where the Beer Hall Putsch (the failed coup of 9 November 1923) took place, and where the Nazi Party was headquartered throughout its existence. A Third Reich tour of Munich visits the sites where this history happened — the Feldherrnhalle (where the putsch was stopped by police gunfire), the Hofbräuhaus (where early Nazi rallies were held), the former Nazi Party headquarters on Brienner Strasse (now a documentation centre — the NS-Dokumentationszentrum, the most important museum of National Socialism in Germany), the Königsplatz (where the Nazis held rallies and book burnings), and the sites of the White Rose resistance movement at the Ludwig Maximilian University.
The NS-Dokumentationszentrum (opened 2015) is the centrepiece — a purpose-built museum on the site of the former Brown House (Nazi Party headquarters) documenting how Munich became the “Capital of the Movement” and how a democratic society collapsed into dictatorship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Munich Third Reich tour different from a Berlin Third Reich tour?
Munich covers the origins of Nazism (the party’s founding, the Beer Hall Putsch, the early years). Berlin covers the regime in power (the government buildings, the Holocaust Memorial, the bunker site). The two cities tell different chapters of the same story.
How long is a Third Reich walking tour?
Typically 2.5–3.5 hours covering the major sites in the city centre. Adding the NS-Dokumentationszentrum extends the tour to 4–5 hours.