the appointment of hitler as chancellor Flashcards
What happened on January 30th, 1933?
Hitler was summoned to the office of President Hindenburg and invited to lead a new ‘government of national concentration’. This was a coalition government between the Nazi Party, DNVP (German national people’s party) and others, including Papen of the Centre Party.
Hitler was made Chancellor of this new government.
What did Papen and Hindenburg believe the more experienced politicians could do to Hitler?
They thought he could be easily manipulated by the more experience politicians in his cabinet.
What did Nazi propaganda present Hitler’s rise to Chancellor as and was this true?
As a result of a Nazi-led political uprising, but this was not true.
He became Chancellor due to negotiations and secret deals between many key German politicians, he was ‘jobbed into office by a backstairs intrigue’.
How long was Bruning’s coalition government in power for?
Just over 2 years, from March 1930-May 1932.
What was Bruning’s economic policy and what nickname did this give him?
To reduce state expenditure by cutting welfare benefits, reducing the number of civil servants and cutting wages.
He became known as the ‘Hunger Chancellor’.
What did Bruning’s economic policy contribute and lead to?
The Depression.
It led to an increase in unemployment which had exceeded 6 million by February 1932.
What happened as unemployment continued to rise?
Support for the Nazis and the Communists rose too, as well as the level of street violence.
Why was Schleicher concerned about Bruning’s ban on the SA?
He feared it would lead to a Nazi uprising, and he’d come to the conclusion that no government could rule without the support of the Nazis.
On what conditions would Hitler agree to joining a coalition government like Schleicher was asking him to do?
He would only do it if he became Chancellor, something that Schleicher was not willing to do.
On what conditions would Hitler agree not to oppose to the new coalition government?
That there would be a new Reichstag election after the SA ban had been lifted.
Why had Bruning been forced to resign?
Hindenburg had been acting upon Schleicher’s advice, and refused to sign a presidential decree that Bruning had submitted.
Who replaced Bruning?
Franz von Papen, with Schleicher becoming Defence Minister in the new cabinet.
How did Papen construct his government?
As a non-party political basis.
The only political party that had supported his coalition was the DNVP, who were rewarded with two posts in the cabinet, the rest were from landowning and industrial elite who were not members of the Reichstag.
What nickname was Papen’s cabinet given?
‘Cabinet of Barons’.
What did Papen have to do due to his limited support within the Reichstag?
Continue to rule by presidential decree, which suited his authoritarian beliefs.
What did Papen believe was the greatest threat to Germany?
A communist revolution that the Weimar democracy had allowed to grow.
What was Papen’s opinions on the Nazis?
As an aristocrat, he looked down on them. However he still sympathised with many of Hitler’s ideas, and saw the Nazis as useful allies in his quest to establish a government of ‘national concentration’.
What did Papen do in June 1932 and what was the result of this?
Lifted the ban on the SA and imposed curbs on the left-wind press.
It resulted in a new wave of street violence, especially during the Reichstag election of July 1932.
What did the street violence during the July 1932 Reichstag elections give Papen the excuse to do?
Impose a more authoritarian rule in Germany’s largest state, Prussia.
What happened to many moderate parties during the July 1932 Reichstag elections?
Most, excluding the Centre Party, suffered losses as Germany’s political situation became even more polarised.
The DVP and the State Party had a serious loss of support and were reduced to the ranks of the fringe parties.
What happened to the DNVP during the July 1932 Reichstag elections?
They’d suffered major losses as the Nazi Party had established themselves as the main party on the right.
Who were the Nazis not able to attract during the July 1932 elections?
The voters of the SPD and KPD, nor were they able to attract the Catholics of the Centre Party.
What were some Nazis aware of after the July 1932 elections?
That they were reaching the limits of their appeal in an open election.
What did Papen do after the July 1932 elections?
Invited Hitler to join his government, but Hitler still refused on the same grounds of wanting to be made Chancellor.
What did Hitler feel free to do after the July 1932 elections?
Break his agreement to Schleicher saying he wouldn’t oppose Papen’s government, and attack it.
