Hitler's Path to Chancellorship
The journey of Adolf Hitler to become the Chancellor of Germany was a tumultuous period in German history, marked by political instability and economic turmoil. In 1932, Hitler became chancellor after a series of events that showcased his political acumen and the miscalculations of his opponents.
The process began in April 1932 with the presidential election, where Hitler came second to Hindenburg, who won 53% of the vote compared to Hitler's 36.8%. This result, while not a victory for Hitler, demonstrated his growing popularity and influence in German politics.
In May 1932, Chancellor Brüning resigned, leading Hindenburg to appoint Franz von Papen, a conservative, as his replacement. This change in leadership would prove to be a crucial step in Hitler's rise to power.
Highlight: The July 1932 Reichstag elections marked a significant milestone in Hitler's ascent, with the Nazi Party becoming the largest single party, securing 230 seats.
Despite this electoral success, the Nazis still lacked a majority in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor, but von Papen remained in power. This situation led to another election in November 1932, called by von Papen in an attempt to win a majority in Parliament. Although the Nazis lost 34 seats, they remained the largest party with 196 seats.
Vocabulary: Backstairs intrigue refers to secret scheming or maneuvering, often in political contexts, which was prevalent during this period of German history.
The political landscape shifted again in December 1932 when von Papen resigned. Hindenburg appointed Kurt von Schleicher, an army general, as Chancellor. Von Schleicher attempted to weaken the Nazi Party by offering a leading Nazi, Gregor Strasser, the position of Vice Chancellor. However, Hitler forced Strasser to decline, maintaining party unity.
Definition: A Chancellor in the context of German politics is the head of government, similar to a Prime Minister in other parliamentary systems.
The final act in Hitler's rise to power came in January 1933. Von Papen and Hindenburg, believing they could control Hitler, decided to appoint him as Chancellor with von Papen as Vice Chancellor. This decision, born out of political miscalculation, led to Hitler's official appointment as Chancellor on January 30, 1933.
Example: The appointment of Hitler as Chancellor is often cited in Hitler's rise to power essays as a critical moment that paved the way for the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship.
This sequence of events demonstrates how Hitler's rise to power was facilitated by a combination of his own political maneuvering, the fragmentation of opposition parties, and the underestimation of his ambitions by established political figures.
