The First Party Rally

January 27-29th 1923

The first Nazi rally was held in Munich in January 1923 and contrary to the extravagant reporting of the Völkischer Beobachter, "little was done at this congress and nothing indicated that it was a precursor of a long series".
However, the Bavarian State felt threatened by the event and the Munich Chief Constable proclaimed a State of Emergency and banned six of the twelve events.
The Nazis ignored this order and all twelve went ahead despite the ban.....a clear disregard of the authority of the Bavarian government who were later heavily criticized for allowing any meetings at all.

 SA groups march through the snow covered streets of Munich

Large crowds (estimated at between 15-20,000) gathered at the Marsfeld (a military parade ground) for a ceremony where new SA standards were 'consecrated' by touching them against the early Nazi standards (a forerunner of the 1927 Blood Flag ceremony).
In Hitler's speech he explained the significance of the colours and hoped that the black, white and red would become a symbol of Germany's greatness and power.

The consecration of the flags at the Marsfeld in January 1923

Later that day there were many meetings held in different locations and the rituals of all future congresses were set in this first meeting.
Most of the extreme ideas of National Socialism were expressed by Hitler at this first congress......Anti-Semitism, annexation of German speaking territories and the ruthless destruction of the enemies of National Socialism (still to be defined).

It is intersting to note that the rally was described as a "drunken bierfest" by several non-Nazi newspapers.