The Collapse Of Democracy, 1928-33 - The Appointment Kf Hitler As Chancellor Flashcards
When was Hitler made chancellor?
30th January 1933
Why was the process of making Hitler chancellor a long process?
Although the Nazi’s became the largest party in the Reichstag, the NSDAP didn’t have an absolute majority and hitler’s appointment instead came from negotiations and secret deals between political figures (advisers)
What were the weaknesses of Brunings government?
His appointment was heavily influenced by schleicher and he could only remain in office, or pass new laws with Hindenburg and schleicher’s support
How did Brüning fail regarding his economic policy?
He was dubbed the ‘hunger chancellor’ due to his excessive cuts to welfare, wages etc and these measures contributed to the deepening of the depression so much that by February 1932, unemployment exceeded 6mn and by spring 1932 there was a real worry among the middle/upper classes of a communist revolution
Why was Schleicher concerned about Bruning’s ban on the SA?
He thought it would provoke a Nazi Uprising
What sealed Brüning’s fate as chancellor?
Hitler did agree not to oppose schleicher’s proposal of forming a new coalition government, on the condition there would be a new election and a lift on the ban of SA
Who replaced Brüning as chancellor?
Von Papen
What were the weaknesses of papen’s government?
- the only party that supported his coalition was the DNVP
- the cabinet was dubbed the ‘cabinet of barons’ as most came from landowning, industrial elites
- Papen had to rule by decree due to his limited support
- he lifted the ban on SA and imposed curbs on the left wing press which resulted in waves of violence
How did Papen end the democratic government in Prussia?
At a large SA march, which was confronted by several hundred communists, the police opened up fire on the communists, killing 18 and injuring over 100, which led Papen to blame the SPD-led government for the breakdown of law and order, declare state emergency in Prussia and appoint himself Reich commissioner
What were the results of the July 1932 election?
- most moderate parties (DVP, DNVP) suffered losses at the hands of extremist parties
- the Nazi’s established themselves as the party of the right, winning 230 seats and 37.3% of votes
- the Nazi’s failed to take support from the KPD and SPD or attract catholics away from the centre party
- the KPD won 14.3% votes and 89 seats, the SPD won 21.6% votes and 133 seats
What did the 1932 election allow Hitler to do?
Break free from his agreement with Schleicher and attack Papen’s government, so Hitler held a vote of no-confidence in his government, which was passed by 512-42 votes
What were the results of the November 1932 election?
- the Nazi’s were reduced in support to 196 seats and 33.1% of the votes because many middle class voters had been alienated by Hitler’s attacks on Papen, and the fact the Nazi’s had supported a communist-led transport strike in Berlin damaged the party in the eyes of the middle class
- these middle class voters returned to the DVP and DNVP which saw a revival in their support
- the KPD gained support, with 100 seats and 16.9% of the vote
Why was the November 1932 election a failure for Papen?
He began to lose credibility in the eyes of the army and was informed by Schleicher that the army wouldn’t support him, so he had to resign
Who were the key figures in Hindenburg’s inner circle?
- Kurt Von Schleicher who was his key adviser and was instrumental in persuading Hindenburg to withdraw his support from Brüning and was heavily involved in the downfall of Papen
- Oskar Von Hindenburg had close links to Schleicher whose opinions were highly valued by his father
- Dr Otto Meissner was a civil servant who ran the presidents office and acted as a go-between in negotiations between Hitler and Hindenburg
Why was it difficult for Schleicher to form a stable government?
He had alienated Papen and lost some of Hindenburg’s trust because of the way he had conspired against Papen, hence he believed his best chance of success lay in persuading the Nazi’s to join a coalition
How did Schleicher try to gain support from the Nazi’s and why did this fail
He put pressure of Hitler by playing on the divisions within the party, and opened negotiations with the party’s organisation leader, Gregor Strasser about joining his government however Hitler got rid of Strasser to reestablish control over his party
What internal divisions did the Nazi’s face?
How and why did Schleicher ‘change tack’?
He believed that a progressive social policy could win support from trade unions and gain support from them in the Reichstag. He cancelled the cuts in wages made by Papen, created a large-scale job scheme to reduce unemployment and even tried to redistribute land to small farmers
Why did Schleicher resign?
He failed to attract TU support and his policies were too much for industrialists and landowners, so as a last resort he asked Hindenburg to suspend the constitution and dissolve the Reichstag but Hindenburg refused
Why was Hitler placed into office?
Talks were held between Papen, Hitler’s and Hindenburg’s inner circle, which led to a deal in which Hitler would become chancellor with Papen as vice chancellor and Hugenburg as Economic and food minister, however as Hitler was deemed uneducated and inexperienced, it was thought he would be easy to control
