9. Maurice Bauvaud and the planned Munich assassination attempt
That Hitler led a sometimes charmed existence is evident in the attempted assassination of the Fuhrer by Maurice Bauvaud, a Swiss Catholic theology student and strident anti-communist. Through the teachings of a mentor who held a Svengali-like grip on the young man, Bauvaud grew to believe that the destruction of communism in the Soviet Union would lead to the return of the Romanov Dynasty to the throne of the Tsar of all the Russias. Bauvaud believed that killing Hitler would somehow expedite the fall of communism and in October 1938 he journeyed by train to Basel, Germany, where he purchased a semi-automatic pistol. He then journeyed to Berlin, where a conversation with a policeman revealed to him that he would need a letter of introduction from a foreign dignitary to obtain an audience with the Fuhrer. Instead of seeking an introduction, Bauvaud traveled to Munich for the annual observation of the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch, which Hitler invariably attended.
Bauvaud purchased a seat on the reviewing stand used by reporters, using false credentials as a Swiss correspondent, carrying his pistol, intent on shooting Hitler when he passed by the stand. When Hitler did appear, well within range, he was surrounded by other Nazi leaders and Bauvaud, not wanting to injure anyone else, did not fire. Bauvaud then attempted to obtain an interview with Hitler at Berchtesgaden using forged documents, but when he arrived Hitler was still in Munich. Out of money, Bauvaud hopped a train and was caught, still carrying the forged documents and pistol. Under Gestapo questioning, he broke down and admitted the attempted assassination. Despite strong protests from the Swiss government and attempts to obtain his release through the exchange of a German spy held by the Swiss, Bauvaud was executed by guillotine in Berlin in May 1941.