The Bavarian People's Party (Bayerische Volkspartei) was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1919 to pursue a more conservative, Bavarian particularist, course. There was a period of near separatism in the early 20s, culminating in the government of Gustav von Kahr's unwillingness to abide by rulings from Berlin during the inflation crisis of 1923. This only came to an end with the shock of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch. Following the establishment of a more stable situation throughout Germany, the party came around to a more moderate line under the leadership of Heinrich Held . The party may be seen as a precursor to the Christian Social Union in Bavaria.
