Ben Wilson

He also runs and eventually escapes abroad.

Ludendorff, for his part, did something remarkable that was characteristic of his status.

He simply kept walking forward straight through the police line.

He, relying on his status as a war hero,

believes that no one is actually going to physically stop the great Lutendorf.

And, you know, he wasn't wrong.

He walks through and everyone else has fled.

So then he just walks home and he is arrested, but only later, peacefully at his home.

So Hitler, he's in this car.

He flees to the country estate of a close supporter in the country hills outside of Munich.

And at first he's despondent.

You know, he knows that this has completely fallen apart.

The prison psychologist would later recall him saying during his subsequent arrest and imprisonment, quote, I've had enough.

I'm finished.

If I had a revolver, I would take it.

Meaning I would use it on myself.

His old comrade and co-founder of the movement, Anton Drexler.

Remember, Drexler is kind of the one who finds Hitler and realizes his potential and promotes him in the party.

Drexler, according to later accounts, is the one who talks him back from committing suicide.

He says, no, no, no, we can still recover from this and talk some sense into Hitler.