Hitler's rise to power, 1932-33 Flashcards
How old was President Hindenburg when he stood for re-election in 1932?
84
What was the result of the presidential election in March 1932?
Hindenburg: 18 million votes (49.6%)
Hitler: 11 million votes (30%)
Thalmann (KPD): 5 million votes (14%)
Why was the presidential election of March 1932 repeated again the following month?
No candidate had achieved 50% of the vote
What was the result of the re-run of the presidential election in April 1932?
Hindenburg: 19 million votes (53%)
Hitler: 13 million votes (36%)
Thalmann (KPD): 4 million votes (11%)
Even though Hitler did not win, why was the result of the April 1932 presidential election a good one for the Nazis?
1) The Nazis had won 2 million more votes
2) The KPD had lost 1 million votes
What TWO things did the moderate Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning, do in April 1932 which lost him support in the Reichstag?
1) Banned the SS and SA
2) Announced a plan to buy up land from large landowners and use it to house the unemployed
Why did other political parties oppose the ban on the SA and SS?
They feared their paramilitary groups would also be banned
Why did Hindenburg oppose Brüning’s plan to buy up land from the large landowners?
He was a landowning conservative
What was Brüning forced to do, having lost the support of the President and Reichstag, on 30 May 1932?
Resign as Chancellor
Following Brüning’s resignation, who did Kurt von Schleicher suggest as a new Chancellor to Hindenburg?
Franz von Papen, a wealthy gentleman politician
What did von Schleicher tell Hindenburg von Papen could do as Chancellor if the Nazis supported him?
Govern without the Reichstag (using Article 48)
How was von Papen’s new government described by its opponents?
The Cabinet of Barons
On what condition did Hitler agree to support von Papen as Chancellor?
If the ban on the SA was removed
When von Papen became Chancellor, what did von Schleicher say about the Nazis?
They were ‘merely children who had to be led by the hand’
How well did the Nazis do in the Reichstag elections of July 1932?
They won 230 seats and became the largest party (38% of the vote)
What did Hitler demand after the July 1932 Reichstag elections?
Von Papen should be sacked as Chancellor and Hindenburg should appoint him instead
What did von Papen do after the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag?
Called new Reichstag elections for November 1932
How did the Nazis perform in the November 1932 Reichstag elections?
Lost seats (from 230 to 196) but were still the largest party in the Reichstag
How did von Schleicher react to the November 1932 Reichstag elections?
He abandoned von Papen - he told Hindenburg that the German army would be unable to keep control if von Papen stayed
How did von Papen react to the November 1932 Reichstag elections?
He resigned as Chancellor
Who did Hindenburg replace von Papen as Chancellor with on 2 December 1932?
Von Schleicher
Why was von Schleicher unable to govern as Chancellor?
He had no majority in the Reichstag (the Nazis were against him) and no support from the public
What did von Schleicher ask Hindenburg to do as he was unable to run Germany as Chancellor?
How did Hindenburg respond?
Suspend the constitution and make him head of a military dictatorship
Hindenburg refused
What was von Papen’s solution to the possibility of von Schleicher launching a military dictatorship?
Hitler could be made Chancellor and von Papen Vice Chancellor
Why did von Papen suggest making Hitler Chancellor?
He believed Hindenburg and himself could make all the decisions themselves and use Hitler as a figurehead
