How Hitler became Chancellor, 1932-33

Question 1

Political developments in 1932 - March 1932

Answer 1

Hindenburg was persuaded to stand for election despite being quite old. Thalmann stood for KPD and Hitler for NSDAP.
A president can only be elected if one of the candidates has <50% votes. Since none of the candidates achieved this, a re-election was needed.

Question 2

Political developments in 1932 - April 1932

Answer 2

Hitler campaigned furiously, with aeroplanes, speeches, etc. The SA disrupted communist rallies.
Hitler still did not win the election; Hindenburg won, bringing economic stability.

Question 3

Political developments in 1932 - May 1932

Answer 3

Bruning banned the SA and the SS, and bought land from landowners to house the unemployed. This made many unhappy and he had to resign on 30 May 1932.
Schleicher suggested von Papen be made the chancellor to Hindenburg, who agreed, assuming he could control the Nazis.

Question 4

Political developments in 1932 - July 1932

Answer 4

Violent campaigning took place between the private armies of the Nazi Party and the Communist Party.
The NSDAP won 230 seats and was now the largest party in the Reichstag.
Hitler demanded that von Papen is sacked and he is appointed Chancellor instead.

Question 5

Political developments in 1932 - November 1932

Answer 5

Hindenburg refused to sack von Papen. He had hoped that Nazi support would go down, but it didn’t, so he was forced to sack von Papen, since he was losing support.

Question 6

Political developments in 1932 - December 1932

Answer 6

Hindenburg was struggling to make a strong government.
Schleicher assured Hindenburg that Nazi support was fading and that they were no longer a threat.
In desperation, Hindenburg appointed von Schleicher as Chancellor.

Question 7

Political developments in 1932 - January 1933

Answer 7

Schleicher’s Chancellorship had no political support since Hitler’s party was against him. So von Schleicher asked Hindenburg to suspend the constitution and hand over military control to him, which would result in an army coup. Hindenburg felt threatened.
Papen suggested that he make Hitler Chancellor and himself Vice Chancellor, saying they could use Hitler as a figurehead. They were wrong.

Question 8

The roles of Hindenburg, von Schleicher and von Papen

Answer 8

Factors enabling Hitler to become Chancellor:
- Hitler’s personal appeal
- policies and organisation of the Nazi Party
- economic collapse of 1929-33
- long-standing weaknesses of the republic
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- Hindenburg never supported the idea of a republic and preferred govt. under Kaiser, so was open to decree and often used Article 48, weakening the republic
- von Schleicher & von Papen were right-wing, so wanted govt. to be controlled by wealthy industrialists & landowners
- all three underestimated Hitler, which was a mistake