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Whereas a large number of loyalty rallies were held on November 9, 1939, there were few critical comments at the time in Germany from people who regretted the attempt had failed. Most Germans did not know who to blame for the attack. Some accepted the Nazi leadership’s interpretation of an operation planned by the British secret service. Others thought the National Socialists had staged the assassination attempt them­selves, so as to reinforce the myth of Hitler’s invulnerability and alleged favor by “providence.”

Many members of the German opposition were also certain the Munich explosion must have been a Gestapo provocation. Equally, opinion pieces in most British and U.S. newspapers assumed the National Socialists had carried out the attempt themselves. Many were reminded of the Reichstag fire of February 27, 1933, for which the National Socialists were also held responsible. Very few people believed Georg Elser acted alone.

Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand
Searching the rubble in the Bürgerbräukeller, Munich, November 9, 1939

Bundesarchiv, R 58/3465, fol. 11-15
After the “Munich Attack Central Commission” led by Heydrich called on the general public to report all “incidents,” many people made denunciations. The reports listed here came only from Berlin.
Bundesarchiv, R 58/3465, fol. 11-15
After the “Munich Attack Central Commission” led by Heydrich called on the general public to report all “incidents,” many people made denunciations. The reports listed here came only from Berlin.
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Einbl.1939/45,4321.2
This British leaflet, a persiflage of the Nazi Völkischer Beobachter newspaper dropped from planes over Germany in December 1939 and January 1940, caricatures the Nazi propaganda claims that the British secret service was involved in the assassination attempt.
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Einbl.1939/45,4321.2
Wolkiger Beobachter, year 1 (1939), issue 2.
This British leaflet, a persiflage of the Nazi Völkischer Beobachter newspaper dropped from planes over Germany in December 1939 and January 1940, caricatures the Nazi propaganda claims that the British secret service was involved in the assassination attempt.