But it was the rightist gangs who secretly received crucial weapons and support from the army leaders. Munich in particular was a center of back street conspiracy and political agitation. Here as a civilian informer for the army in 1919 Hitler attended the beer hall meetings of an insignificant group called the German Workers Party. Founded by an uneducated locksmith, it advocated a confused program of racism and social reform. Although it had few active members, Hitler sensed that he could transform the group into a personal instrument. Enrolled, he immediately joined the steering committee and very quickly, through his oratory, he became the unquestioned leader of what was to become the Nazi party. This was the beginning of his journey to power. Around the swastika, his new banner of hate, Hitler gathered a rabble vanguard of angry men, jobless soldiers and street brawlers. The grotesque clique of Nazi leaders was assembling. Through Captain Hernst Rohm, political leis an officer, the army secretly sent Hitler money and recruits. Swaggering air hero Herman Ghering would command the gutter warfare of the storm troops. A dull and moody ex officer Rudolf Hess was Hitler's secretary. Fanatical Racist, Alfred Rosenberg became the party's editor, and muddled philosopher of Nazism. .
As the nation neared revolution and civil war Hitler skillfully rode national emotions. Better than any man in Germany, her heard the inner voices of the crowd. In Bavaria, a province filled with resentment for the republic, Hitler hoped to unite its right wing extremists for a march on Berlin. He had to first seize the Bavarian government. With Rohm, he gathered 3000 storm troops in Munich and took his first hostages. Hopeful of army support by allying himself with the tremendous national symbol, the aging fanatic General Ludendorf, ex corporal Hitler prepared a march. On the morning of November 9, 1923 Hitler began his march across the Ludwig Bridge.