6 Assassination Attempts on Adolf Hitler

1. 1921: The Munich Beer Hall Melee
The first attempt on Hitler's life occurred nearly 20 years before the start of World War II. In November 1921, the young and still largely unknown radical made a speech at Munich's famed Hofbräuhaus beer hall. Along with members of the newly formed Nazi Party, the crowd also included dozens of social democrats, communists and other political opponents. Hitler's fiery rhetoric had soon whipped them all into a frenzy. A drunken brawl broke out, and while the fists, beer steins and chairs were flying, a group of unknown assailants drew pistols and fired several shots in the direction of the speaker's podium. Hitler was unhurt, however, and he even continued ranting for another 20 minutes until police arrived.