On this day in 1923, Adolf Hitler attempts a coup against the government of the German state of Bavaria in what became known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler, an Austrian-born former soldier and leader of Germany’s rapidly growing Nazi Party, had been exploiting the public’s discontent with Germany’s post-World War I government. He was seen as a hero by some and a dangerous demagogue by others. On the night of November 8, Hitler and his followers, armed with pistols and rifles, marched through the streets of Munich to the center of power

On this day in 1923, the largest earthquake ever to hit Tokyo and its surrounding areas shook the area shortly before noon. The magnitude 7.9 earthquake caused immense destruction, killing over 140,000 people and leaving over 1 million homeless. In Tokyo alone, the earthquake caused fires that burned for three days, devastating the city and destroying 41% of the buildings. Thousands of other buildings were damaged, with many of them collapsing. The destruction of roads and bridges further hampered the rescue efforts. In addition to the destruction, the earthquake also created large tsunamis on the Pacific coastline of Japan,