Nazis: The Road to Power

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Nazis: The Road to Power: 3. The Enemy Is on the Left, the Danger Is on the Right

3. The Enemy Is on the Left, the Danger Is on the Right

BBC Radio 4 - Nazis: The Road to Power, 3. The Enemy Is on the Left, the Danger Is on the Right

8 November 1923: the Nazis launch their coup. But overnight, it all quickly unravels.

The story of how in just 13 years, Adolf Hitler led a fringe sect with less than a hundred members and outlandish ideas to be the dominant force in German politics.

Footloose in Munich, Harvard-educated Putzi Hanfstaengl finds himself drawn in by Hitler’s charisma, quickly becoming one of his entourage, partly thanks to his enthusiastic piano-playing. 

But with the whole country in the grip of hyperinflation - pushing wheelbarrows of money to pay for a single loaf of bread - there is a call for a more drastic step, a coup against the federal government. Are the Nazis ready? Can they really wait any longer?

The Nazis seize power in Munich, now intending to march on Berlin and announce a national dictatorship led by Hitler. But first they must take control of all the police forces and the infantry barracks, and it’s essential they shut down the telephone exchange and radio transmitters. It is a night of chaos. And is the Army really on their side or do they have their own coup planned?  

Starring Corey Johnson as Putzi Hanfstaengl, Tom Mothersdale as Adolf Hitler and featuring Andrew Woodall as General von Ludendorff.

Cast:
Putzi Hanfastaengl - COREY JOHNSON 
Adolf Hitler - TOM MOTHERSDALE 
Ernst Röhm - JOSEPH ALESSI 
Emil Maurice - OSCAR BATTERHAM 
Leni Hanfstaengl - MELODY GROVE 
Herman Göring - SCOTT KARIM 
Gustav Ritter von Kahr - MICHAEL MALONEY 
Ulrich Graf - FORBES MASSON
General Ludendorff - ANDREW WOODALL 
Other parts were played by: EDWARD BENNETT, WILLIAM CHUBB, NICHOLAS FARRELL, 
GEORGE KEMP, SORCHA KENNEDY, JACK LASKEY and LYNNE MILLER 
The Narrator is JULIET STEVENSON 
 
Sound Designer – ADAM WOODHAMS
Studio Manager – MARK SMITH
Casting Director – GINNY SCHILLER
Original Score – METAPHOR MUSIC
Producer – NICHOLAS NEWTON
Writer and Director – JONATHAN MYERSON

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How Adolf Hitler turned a fringe sect into the dominant force in German politics.

The story of how, in just 13 years, Adolf Hitler led a fringe sect with less than a hundred members and outlandish ideas to become the dominant force in German politics.

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3. The Enemy Is on the Left, the Danger Is on the Right

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