7 - Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933

Question 1

How did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany, 1932-33?

Answer 1

1 - Presidential election, April 1932
2 - Resignation of Chancellor Bruning, May 1932
3 - von Papen’s ‘Cabinet of Barons’
4 - July 1932 Reichstag elections and von Papen’s resignation
5 - von Schleicher becomes Chancellor, December 1932
6 - Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor

Question 2

Explain why Hitler was appointed as Chancellor if Germany in January 1933 (3 points)

Answer 2

1 - Growing NSDAP electoral support, giving Hitler a mandate to be Chancellor
2 - Political intrigue by Schleicher, Papen, and Hindenburg
3 - Fear of communism and civil war, leading to increased desire for a stable government

Question 3

Presidential election, April 1932

Answer 3

• Hindenburg was re-elected
• Hitler = 13 million votes
• Thalmann (KPD) = 4 million votes
• Hitler now a recognisable and well-supported national figure
• he appeared as a credible leader

Question 4

Resignation of Chancellor Bruning, May 1932

Answer 4

• April 1932: 2 steps which lost him the support of the Reichstag = banned SS and SA, and announced plan to buy up land from large landowners and use it to house the unemployed
• right wing furious = lost support of Reichstag + President so was forced to resign
• faith in Weimar democracy to handle the crisis continued to decrease and people increasingly supported extremist parties

Question 5

vov Papen’s ‘Cabinet of Barons’

Answer 5

• contained landowners, industrialists, and army officers (right wing)
• organised by von Schleicher
• governed without the Reichstag using presidential decrees
• undemocratic
• Hindenburg made von Papen chancellor
• Hitler agreed to support the coalition if the ban on the SA was lifted - Hitler and the Nazi Party part of the government for the first time

Question 6

July 1932 Reichstag elections and von Papen’s resignation

Answer 6

• July 1932 Reichstag elections = violence in the streets, particularly between the communists and the SA, killing about 100 people
• NSDAP won 230 seats
• had 38% of seats in 1932 - the NSDAP were the largest party in the Reichstag
• Hitler argued that he had a popular mandate to govern + ordered Hindenburg to sack von Papen and appoint him as chancellor instead

Question 7

Explain why Hitler was appointed as Chancellor in Germany in January 1933 - Growing NSDAP electoral support, 1929-32

Answer 7

• Presidential election April 1932 = Hitler got 36% of the votes
• this made him a recognisable and well-supported national figure
• credible leader
• July 1932 Reichstag election = NSDAP won 230 seats - 38% of the votes by 1932 = largest party in the Reichstag
• as a result Hitler argued that he had a popular mandate to govern

Question 8

Explain why Hitler was appointed as Chancellor in Germany in January 1933 - Political intrigue by Schleicher, Papen, and Hindenburg

Answer 8

• Hindenburg did not like Hitler and wanted to control him
• Schleicher wanted to be the head of a military dictatorship but Hindenburg refused
• Hitler + NSDAP = largest party in the Reichstag and refused to support the government
• Hindenburg hoped to be able to control Hitler if he was Chancellor - ‘Chancellor in chains’

Question 9

Explain why Hitler was appointed as Chancellor in Germany in January 1933 - Fear of communism and civil war

Answer 9

• Presidential elections April 1932 = Thalmann (KPD) got 11% of the votes
• faith in Weimar democracy to handle the crisis continued to decrease, and people increasingly supported extremist parties
• the ‘cabinet of barons’ governed without the Reichstag, using presidential decrees
• July 1932 Reichstag elections = violence in the streets, particularly between communists and SA, killing about 100 people
• rumours of a military dictatorship headed by Schleicher spread = Hindenburg became increasingly worried about an army coup
• prospect of a Nazi-Nationalist coalition promised to bring a stable majority