2.4 How Hitler became Chancellor, 1932-33

Question 1

What were the results of the 1930 general election?

Answer 1

Nazis = 18% of the vote
KDP = 13% 
SDP = 25%

Question 2

Why was Hindenburg convinced to run for re-election in 1932?

Answer 2

To keep government as stable as possible
In the midst of depression
Campains violent

Question 3

What were the results of the March 1932 Presidential elections?

Answer 3

KDP representative = 5 million votes
Hindenburg = 18 million votes
Hitler = 11 million votes

Question 4

Why did they have to have a re-election?

Answer 4

No one got over 50% of the vote

Question 5

What were the results of the April 1932 Presidential elections?

Answer 5

KDP rep = 4 million votes
Hindenburg = 19 million votes
Hitler = 13 million votes

Question 6

Why did these suggestions turn right-wing people against Bruning?

Answer 6

Ban on SS and SA angered Hitler
Other parties feared their paramilitary groups would be banned
Landowning classes furious at land being bought up
Hindenburg = landowning conservative = angered

Question 7

When did Bruning resign?

Answer 7

30th May 1932

Question 8

Who was von Papen and who suggested him to Hindeburg?

Answer 8

von Papen = friend of Hindenburg, wealthy politician

Suggested by von Schleicher = army general who had been organising right-wing coaltiion

Question 9

What was von Shleicher’s plan to get past not having a majority in Weimar?

Answer 9

Get Nazis (very popular) to support Papen and then could govern without Reichstag

Question 10

Why did this go against the spirit of Weimar?

Answer 10

Constitution intended that Chancellor have support of Reichstag
Called the ‘Cabinet of Barons’

Question 11

What else happened on the 30th May 1932

Answer 11

Hindenburg made von Papen Chancellor

Question 12

What mistake did von Schleicher make with the Nazis?

Answer 12

Underestimating them and thinking they could be easily controlled

Question 13

How many votes did the Nazis get in the 1932 election and what did Hitler demand as a result?

Answer 13

38% of votes (230 seats) = largest party
Demanded that von Papen was sacked and he was made Chancellor
Hindenburg refused as he disliked Hitler

Question 14

What did von Papen do next and why?

Answer 14

Called elections in November 1932, hoping Nazi support would fall
They did to 196 seats = largest party
His plan failed

Question 15

What did von Schleicher do and why?

Answer 15

Abandoned von Papen

Told Hindeburg that if he stayed, Germany would have a civil war and the army wouldn’t be able to keep control

Question 16

When did Hindenburg reluctantly sack von Papen?

Answer 16

November 1932

Question 17

When did von Schleicher become Chancellor and why?

Answer 17

2 December 1932

Hindeburg was struggling to form a strong government but still refused to appoint Hitler

Question 18

Why was von Schleicher unable to do anything as Chancellor?

Answer 18

No support - Nazis against him

No majority in Reichstag or support from public

Question 19

What did von Schleicher do because of his lack of power?

Answer 19

Asked Hindenburg to suspend constitution and make himmilitary dictator
Said army would support him
Hindenburg refused

Question 20

What roumors began circulating and how did von Papen exacerbate these?

Answer 20

That von Schleicher was planning a coup

von Papen told Hindenburg that if a new government wasn’t formed, the army would march and form a miltary dictatorship

Question 21

What was von Papen’s solution?

Answer 21

Make Hitler Chancellor and von Papen Vice Chancellor

Hitler = figurehead while Hindenburg and vP make decisions

Question 22

When was Hitler legally appointed Chancellor of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 22

30th January 1933