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Georg Elser's Bomb Explodes After Hitler Leaves

On November 8, 1939, a bomb planted by Georg Elser exploded in Munich's Bürgerbräukeller.

Published · Updated · 1 min read

The Event

On November 8, 1939, a bomb planted by Georg Elser exploded in Munich's Bürgerbräukeller. Hitler had left earlier than expected and survived.

The Wider Story

People remaining in the hall were killed and injured. Elser's independent planning later became important to understanding individual resistance to the Nazi dictatorship.

Putting the Event in Perspective

The event was a failed assassination attempt, not a successful killing of Hitler.

Reading the Historical Record

A reconstruction should avoid bomb-making detail, invented dialogue or the suggestion that the explosion harmed only its intended target.

About the Historical Recreation

The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: an exterior view of the Munich hall followed by a quiet archival table, no blast or bomb mechanism. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.

Sources

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