Chapter 2

The governor of Bavaria, Karl, the commander of the Bavarian Defense Force, Otto von Lossow, and the head of the state police, Hans Ritter von Seisser, were key figures in the Bavarian separatist movement. These men sought to preserve the monarchy and fiercely opposed the Weimar Republic, which they saw as weak and corrupt.

Hitler, a survivor of the trenches of the First World War, harbored deep respect for the former German Emperor. Though his political views had evolved over time, he and the Bavarian separatists shared a common goal: to resist the rule of the Weimar Republic and restore Germany's lost greatness.

These men were Hitler's target. His mission was to persuade them to join his cause, and he was willing to do whatever it took to succeed. The question was whether they would realize that their future depended on siding with him.

Alex, a man well-versed in history and the storm of events about to unfold, followed Hitler and Hermann Göring with an MP18 submachine gun in hand. The weapon, with its barrel perforated for heat dissipation, lent him an intimidating presence. With a 32-round magazine in his left hand, Alex stood like a figure of menace, ready to act at a moment's notice.

When the barrel of his weapon was aimed at someone, fear seized their faces. No one wanted to stare death in the eye like that.

"You three, stand up and follow me!" Göring commanded firmly. Without hesitation, Alex trained his weapon on Karl, Lossow, and Seisser.

Karl's face turned pale, and his legs began to tremble. Lossow and Seisser, however, held their composure. They exchanged a brief glance, reaching an unspoken agreement before steadying Karl, who seemed on the verge of collapse. Escorted by stormtroopers, the three men were led into an adjoining room.

Hitler tucked his pistol into his belt. The situation was under his control, but now he had to convince these men to join his revolution. With a voice brimming with confidence, he began to speak:

"I regret having frightened you," Hitler said, though there was no trace of remorse in his tone. "This is for the good of Germany. A great national revolution is underway, and through it, all of Germany will be reborn. Our uprising already has the support of General Ludendorff."

Hitler was a natural orator, a firebrand capable of igniting fervor in any heart. From the shadows, Alex watched, unable to deny his grudging admiration for Hitler's ability to sway the masses. He knew how this story ended—yet, in that moment, even he nearly succumbed to the force of Hitler's words.

When Alex found himself thrust across time and space, becoming a character in this chaotic world, he realized he had no choice but to adapt to its brutal rules. This was a world where only the strong and the cunning survived, and Alex was determined to leave his mark.

Hitler pressed on, intoxicated by visions of triumph. He believed that only he could lift Germany from the shadows of its First World War defeat and forge the Third Reich that would dominate Europe. And now, with Ludendorff at his side, victory felt closer than ever.

Erich Ludendorff, former German army general and ex-Chief of Staff, was a man of formidable influence. During the First World War, he had been the right hand of Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg on the Eastern Front. Though now without official command, Ludendorff remained a staunch militarist, dreaming of expansion and despising democracy.

As the coup unfolded in Munich, Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter, a key figure in the National Socialist German Workers' Party, had driven through the night to Ludwigshafen to retrieve Ludendorff. The aging general was the ideal nominal leader for Hitler's revolution, and his presence would be crucial in persuading Karl, Lossow, and Seisser.

Hitler spoke relentlessly, laying out his arguments and plans with impeccable eloquence. The new national army, built upon the radical right-wing "Combat League," would be under Ludendorff's command, leading the troops toward Berlin. Promises of power sweetened the deal—Karl would be made regent of Bavaria, Lossow the imperial minister of the army, and Seisser the imperial minister of police.

But Alex knew that the three men before him had no intention of aligning with Hitler's cause. The events that followed would soon confirm his suspicions—one by one, they fled, and shortly after, they sent a telegram urging the authorities to crush Hitler's uprising.

Now, however, Alex had crossed time itself, and he was determined to prevent history from playing out as it once had. A time traveler was here to rewrite the fate of nations. What if the Beer Hall Putsch succeeded? The mere thought sent a surge of anticipation and resolve through him.

The time to act was now.