Munich is a city of great beauty and splendour, known as much for beautiful churches and Lederhosen as for the Oktoberfest. There was a time however, that Munich was known for other, less wholesome reasons. The period following the Great War of 1914-18 was very traumatic for Germany and Munich was no exception. In a time of great social and economic unrest, Munich became a hot-bed of political extremism and for a short time, a Soviet Republic. Out of this chaotic period the Nazi Party emerged, under the leadership of an Austrian by the name of Adolf Hitler. Munich was christened by the Nazis as “Hauptstadt der Bewegung” or “Capital of the Movement”. The beautiful city on the river Isar became the heart, the spiritual home of a movement that would plunge Europe into another world war and lead to the deaths of millions. Hopefully, by learning about this dark period in human history we can, perhaps in our own little way try to ensure that such a calamity never happens again. On this tour you will see and learn about: The Great War and the Treaty of Versailles The origins of the Nazi Party The birthplace of the SS The infamous “Beer Hall Putsch” “Crystal Night” and the origins of the Holocaust The Nazi Party Headquarters and the signing of “The Munich Pact” The Allied bombing campaign How the city fell to US forces in 1945 And much more besides