BACKSTAIRS INTRIGUE

Question 1

In WHICH years was Germany led by parliamentary government?

Answer 1

1919 - 1930

Question 2

In WHICH years was Germany led by dictatorship?

Answer 2

1933 - 1945

Question 3

In WHICH years was Germany led by presidential government?

Answer 3

1930 - 1933

Question 4

WHAT was the communist slogan for their presidential campaign 1932?

Answer 4

‘A vote for Hindenburg is a vote for Hitler, a vote for Hitler is a vote for war.’

Question 5

WHEN was the second presidential election (re-election of Hindenburg)?

Answer 5

1932

Question 6

WHY did Hindenburg win by majority in the 1932 presidential election?

Answer 6

He had the support of Centre party and SPD voters (neither party put up their own candidate as they did not want to split the vote)

Question 7

WHAT was the result of the 1932 presidential election (2nd round)?

Answer 7

53% Hindenburg
36% Hitler
10% Thalmann

Question 8

WHO was Papen?

Answer 8

A Catholic, Zentrum politician and former aristocratic army officer. Thoroughly anti-democratic

Question 9

HOW did Papen come to power?

Answer 9

Bruning was forced to resign and Hindenburg replaced him with Papen because of the influence of Schleicher

Question 10

HOW and WHY did von Papen try to appeal to the Nazis?

Answer 10

• June 1932: lifted ban on the SA
• July 1932: agreed to Hitler’s demands for a new election
• He wanted to increase his support in the Reichstag using the Nazis

Question 11

WHAT percentage of the vote did the Nazis have in July 1932 and November 1932?

Answer 11

July: 37.3%
November: 33.1%
The Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag both times

Question 12

HOW did von Papen remove any remaining democracy in Germany during his chancellorship?

Answer 12

He deposed the socialist-led coalition government in Prussia

Question 13

WHEN did Hitler first demand to be made Chancellor?

Answer 13

In August 1932, after the July elections made the Nazis the largest party in the Reichstag

Question 14

WHEN did von Papen’s government fall?

Answer 14

December 1932

Question 15

HOW did Papen’s government fall?

Answer 15

1) The Reichstag declared no-confidence in Papen by 92%.
2) Hindenburg dissolved the Reichstag
3) Papen proposed to permanently replace the Reichstag and suppress opposition with the army
4) Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss Papen

Question 16

WHICH parties were the largest after the November 1932 elections?

Answer 16

NSDAP (33%)
SPD (20%)
KPD (17%)
Half of the Reichstag was controlled by the anti-Weimar parties KPD and NSDAP

Question 17

WHO did the elites want in charge after November 1932 and what did Hindenburg say to their demands?

Answer 17

They wanted Hitler as Chancellor, but Hindenburg demanded that Hitler must control a majority in the Reichstag first.

Question 18

WHO was vice Chancellor under von Schleicher?

Answer 18

The Nazi Gregor Strasser

Question 19

WHAT was a key (failed) Schleicher policy?

Answer 19

He tried to develop Bruning’s land resettlement schemes, but it alienated the elite who warned Hindenburg of ‘agrarian Bolshevism’ and also failed to get support from the left.

Question 20

WHAT percent support did von Schleicher have in the Reichstag?

Answer 20

Only 9%

Question 21

WHO were the key figures in the ‘Backstair’s Intrigue’?

Answer 21

• Von Papen (believed he could control Hitler as vice Chancellor)
• Oskar von Hindenburg (Hindenburg’s son - assured his father about the Nazi coalition)
• Otto Meissner (organised the Papen-Hitler talks and negotiated between Hindenburg and Hitler)

Question 22

WHEN did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 22

30th January 1933

Question 23

WHAT was historian Laffan’s argument on how Hitler came to power?

Answer 23

‘… the National Socialists came to power more because of their enemies’ weaknesses and failures than because of their own strength.’

Question 24

HOW accurate is it to say that the German people chose Hitler as their Chancellor?

Answer 24

• The Nazis did NOT have a majority, but were the largest party
• Came to power mainly due to the work of the backstair’s intrigue, but wouldn’t have come to their attention without the support of the people
• Some historians argue that the Nazi vote would have continued to decline after 1932 (as their vote had dropped between July and November, 1932)