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Back to Podcast EpisodesGeorge Elser’s 1939 Beer Hall Bomb Plot To Kill Hitler (Part 2)
Georg Elser’s failure is one of the most remarkable stories in European history.
At precisely 9:20, the first of George Elser’s clocks activated perfectly the bomb detonated with a tremendous blast that pulverized the speaker’s platform, shattered the pillar behind it and brought the roof of the building down upon its inhabitants. Dust and debris filled the air, the room now shrouded in darkness with beams falling and screams for help. Seven people were killed immediately, one would die later at the hospital.
Surprisingly, it took a while for anyone to connect Georg Elser with the bombing, but he was eventually brought to Munich. Himmler was placed in charge of the investigation and he quickly delegated direct authority to his immediate subordinates. By November 12, several employees of the Burgerbraukellar, including the manager who had confronted him in the storage closet incident, positively identified him as a habitual customer. This was enough to bring on what could be termed “enhanced interrogations” essentially beatings that left him moaning and bloody according to one eyewitness. Stuttgart Gestapo officer would descend on Konigsbrunn and quickly talk to the daughter of one of Elser’s benefactors who let him live in their home in exchange for carpentry. She told of Georg showing her pictures of the Burgerbraukellar and his funny wooden suitcase with the false bottoms and his work at the quarry with dynamite. This must have arched a few Gestapo eyebrows in Munich and intensified the physical thrashing typical when a suspect needs to make a confession. Elser was eventually taken to Gestapo headquarters in Berlin.
Published on 9 years, 1 month ago