Editing Georg Elser (section)

==Plot==
In order to find out how best to implement his assassination plan, Elser travelled to Munich by train on 8 November 1938, the day of Hitler's annual speech on the anniversary of the [[Beer Hall Putsch]]. Elser was not able to enter the Bürgerbräukeller until 10:30&nbsp;p.m., when the crowd had dispersed. He stayed until midnight before going back to his lodging. The next morning, he returned to Königsbronn.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/> On the following day, 10 November, the anti-Jewish violence of the [[Kristallnacht]] took place in Munich.<ref>[http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=1957 "The Morning after the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) in Munich: The Destroyed Synagogue on Reichenbachstrasse in Munich (November 10, 1938)"] ''GHDI''</ref>
"In the following weeks I slowly concocted in my mind that it was best to pack explosives in the pillar directly behind the speaker's podium," Elser told his interrogators a year later. He continued to work in the Waldenmaier armament factory in Heidenheim and systematically stole explosives, hiding packets of powder in his bedroom. Realising he needed the exact dimensions of the column to build his bomb he returned to Munich, staying 4–12 April 1939. He took a camera with him, a Christmas gift from Maria Schmauder. He had just become unemployed due to an argument with a factory supervisor.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

In April–May 1939, Elser found a labouring job at the Vollmer quarry in Königsbronn. While there, he collected an arsenal of 105 blasting cartridges and 125 detonators, causing him to admit to his interrogators, "I knew two or three detonators were sufficient for my purposes, but I thought the surplus will increase the explosive effect." Living with the Schmauder family in [[Heidenheim an der Brenz|Schnaitheim]] he made many sketches, telling his hosts he was working on an "invention".<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

In July, in a secluded orchard owned by his parents, Elser tested several prototypes of his bomb. Clock movements given to him in lieu of wages when leaving Rothmund in Meersburg in 1932 and a car indicator "winker" were incorporated into the "infernal machine". In August, after a bout of sickness, he left for Munich. Powder, explosives, a battery and detonators filled the false bottom of his wooden suitcase. Other boxes contained his clothes, clock movements and the tools of his trade.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

===The Bürgerbräukeller===
Elser arrived in Munich on 5 August 1939. Using his real name, he rented a room in the apartments of two unsuspecting couples, at first staying with the Baumanns and from 1 September, Alfons and Rosa Lehmann. He soon became a regular at the Bürgerbräukeller restaurant for his evening meal. As before, he was able to enter the adjoining Bürgerbräukeller Hall before the doors were locked at about 10:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

Over the next two months, Elser stayed all night inside the Bürgerbräukeller 30 to 35 times. Working on the gallery level and using a flashlight dimmed with a blue handkerchief, he started by installing a secret door in the timber panelling to a pillar behind the speaker's rostrum. After removing the plaster behind the door, he hollowed out a chamber in the brickwork for his bomb. Normally completing his work around 2:00–3:00&nbsp;a.m., he dozed in the storeroom off the gallery until the doors were unlocked at about 6:30&nbsp;a.m. He then left via a rear door, often carrying a small suitcase filled with debris.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

Security was relatively lax at the Bürgerbräukeller. [[Christian Weber (SS general)|Christian Weber]], a veteran from the Beer Hall Putsch and the Munich city councillor, was responsible.<ref name="Hellmut G 2013"/> However, from the beginning of September, after the outbreak of war with Poland, Elser was aware of the presence of air raid wardens and two "free-running dogs" in the building.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

While he worked at night in the Bürgerbräukeller, Elser built his device during the day. He purchased extra parts, including sound insulation, from local hardware stores and became friends with the local master woodworker, Brög, who allowed him use of his workshop.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

On the nights of 1–2 November, Elser installed the explosives in the pillar. On 4–5 November, which were Saturday and Sunday dance nights, he had to buy a ticket and wait in the gallery until after 1&nbsp;a.m. before he could install the twin-clock mechanism that would trigger the detonator. To celebrate the completion of his work, Elser recalled later, "I left by the back road and went to the Isartorplatz where at the kiosk I drank two cups of coffee."<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>

On 6 November, Elser left [[Munich]] for [[Stuttgart]] to stay overnight with his sister, Maria Hirth, and her husband. Leaving them his tool boxes and baggage, he returned to Munich the next day for a final check. Arriving at the Bürgerbräukeller at 10&nbsp;p.m., he waited for an opportunity to open the bomb chamber and satisfy himself the clock mechanism was correctly set. The next morning he departed Munich by train for Friedrichshafen via [[Ulm]]. After a shave at a hairdresser, he took the 6:30&nbsp;p.m. steamer to [[Konstanz]].<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>