UNIT 2C
GERMANY
Hitler becomes Chancellor
The actions of three key people resulted in Hitler becoming Chancellor. You will need to
know who these people were and the sequence of political events.
Political
events, 1932
May 1932
Hindenburg replaces
Chancellor Heinrich
Brüning with von
Papen
Mar / Apr 1932
Hindenburg beats Hitler
in Presidential election
but Hitler gains support
Nov 1932 Von Papen calls
another election and Centre
Party loses more seats. The
Nazis also lose some seats
but are still the largest party
Jul 1932 Von Papen’s Centre
Party holds Reichstag
elections to gain support
but loses seats. Nazis
become largest party, but
Hitler not made Chancellor
28 Jan 1933
Lack of support
forces von
Schleicher’s
resignation
Dec 1932
Hindenburg
removes von
Papen and makes
von Schleicher
Chancellor
30 Jan 1933
Hitler becomes
Chancellor
Paul von Hindenbu
rg
Hindenburg, a hero
of the First World
War, became presid
ent in April 1925.
In the Depression cri
sis, he used his
emergency powers
to rule without
the Reichstag after
1930. He
appointed his frien
d Franz von
Papen, then his advis
er Kurt von Sch
hle
leic
ich
he
er
r,
Chancellor in 1932
. However, neither
could form
a government. Even
though Hindenburg
was
politically right win
g, he distrusted Hit
ler and
thought the Nazis we
re too violent. When
the
Nazis became the big
gest party he refuse
d to
appoint Hitler Chan
cellor, by the end of
January
1933, von Papen per
suaded him that Hit
ler was
his only option. He
therefore made Hit
ler
Chancellor on condit
ion that von Papen
was
Vice-Chancellor and
there were only a few
Nazis
in the Cabinet. He tho
ught this would kee
eep
p Hitler
under control.
r
Kurt von Schleiche
the army’s
Von Schleicher was
er to President
vis
ad
al
itic
pol
ef
chi
Hindenburg.
burg not to
• He advised Hinden
ember
in Novem
pen
Pa
von
nt
re-appoi
munist and
com
se
cau
uld
(he thought it wo
e President
Th
s).
street
Nazi violence on the
instead.
lor
cel
an
Ch
r
he
made von Schleic
d lost the
an
nt
me
a govern
• He couldn’t form
ed
ign
res
He
rg.
bu
support of Hinden
would succeed him.
believing von Papen
Jot down reasons why Hitler was able to
become Chancellor of Germany.
Franz von Papen
lor from May to
Von Papen (Chancel
y..
y
rty
art
the Centre Pa
led
)
32
19
ber
Novem
her
leic
Sch
von
en
wh
s
• He was furiou
and started
became Chancellor
ler.
Hit
h
negotiating wit
g to appoint
end Hindenburg
fri
his
ded
sua
per
• He
believing
ed,
leicher resign
Hitler after von Sch
.
lled
Hitler could be contro
1933–34.
hancellor to Hitler
• He became Vice-C
Hitler becomes Chancellor
After the political manoeuvring of
Hindenberg, von Papen and von
Schleicher, Hitler became Chancellor
on 30 January 1933. Hindenberg and
von Papen were convinced that they
would be able to use Hitler initially,
and then get rid of him later.
Remember to include direct and
indirect reasons.
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