Hitler becomes Chancellor

The short version - Economic Crisis

• 3rd October 1929- Stresemann died. This left Germany weak without one of its most able politicians.

• October 1929- The Wall Street crash. • US loans to German industries were called in,

leaving industries unable to function. Many closed down, and unemployment rose dramatically.

• Wages were low• People began to turn on the Weimar Republic again• People looked to more extremist groups, like the

Nazis and Communists for a solution

Short version - The Political CrisisMuller replaced by

Bruning Bruning rules by decree Hindenburg stops signing decrees

Bruning replaced by Von Papen

Nazi electoral success - need his support

Von Papen no-confidence vote

Schleicher chancellor Von Papen wants office again

Convinces Hindenburg to appoint Hitler

chancellor and him VC

The Depression

Year Unemployed1928 650 0001929 1 320 0001930 3 000 0001931 4 350 0001932 5 102 0001933 6 100 000

Depression• Muller’s coalition – fell apart March

1930 – couldn’t agree on how to finance national insurance for unemployment

• Brüning appointed – manoeuvred in by conservative-nationalists

• Plan – cut spending• Rejected by Reichstag – used Article

48

Chancellor Bruning-the Centre PartyRemember the weakness of the Weimar Constitution-PR-He did not have a majorityHad to rely on President Hindenburg-Article 48

§48!• Used to pass economic policy• Reichstag challenged the decree’s

legality• Reichstag dissolved July 1930

New election September 1930

• 1928 – NS get 2.8%• 1930 – NS get 18.3%• DDP and DVP lost 20 seats• SPD vote decreased• KPD vote increased

Brüning’s rule• Rule by decree ‘tolerated’ by SPD• 1930 – 5 decrees• 1932 – 66 decrees• Sitting days – 94 in 1930, 13 in 1932• Did Brüning mind?– Ultra-conservative monarchist with little

sympathy for republic–Wanted to weaken Reichstag and get

authoritarian constitution

The fall of Brüning• Economic policy led to reduced

demand – slump worse• Mass rally Oct 31 to denounce

Brüning• Wanted to turn Junker estates in to

600 000 allotments for unemployed workers

• May 32 – Hindenburg stopped signing decrees

Manoeuvring• Right wing conspiracy –

group led by Schleicher convinces Hindenburg to force Brüning to resign in order to get a right wing govt

Von Papen installed• Aristocratic, and Schleicher thought

he could be influenced• New cabinet of landowners and

industrialists• Wanted support of NSDAP• Hitler agreed if– The ban on SA and SS was ended – There were new elections

Depression Bruning rules by Article 48

Hindenburg stops signing

decrees

Von Papen installed

July 1932• NSDAP 37.3%, 230 seats• DDP/DVP collapse – 2.2% of vote

total• 84% turnout• Only 39.5% voted for democratic

parties

Violence!• July 1932 - 461 riots in Prussia• 10 July – 10 killed in Nazi-Communist

fighting

Von Papen out• 12 Sept – Vote of No Confidence in

Von Papen 512-42• Reichstag dissolved• Hitler refuses to cooperate unless

chancellor• Von Papen – plans martial law• Schleicher – convinces Hindenburg to

get Papen to resign – didn’t have confidence of army

Schleicher Chancellor• Aim – split left and

right wings of NSDAP• Appointed Gregor

Strasser vice-chancellor

• Hitler had loyalty of party leadership – forced Strasser to resign

Nazis doing well in elections &

violence

No confidence vote in Von Papen

Hitler refusing anything less than

chancellorship

Schleicher appoints Strasser

VC

Hitler forces Strasser to resign

Final manoeuvring• Von Papen wants office again• Convinces Hindenburg to make Hitler

chancellor and he would be vice-chancellor – said Schleicher hadn’t brought stability

• Said he could control Hitler

30 Jan 1933

Muller replaced by

Bruning

Bruning rules by decree

Hindenburg stops signing

decrees

Bruning replaced by Von Papen

Nazi electoral success - need

his support

Von Papen no-confidence

vote

Schleicher chancellor

Von Papen wants office

again

Convinces Hindenburg to appoint Hitler

chancellor and him VC

Why did politics become more extreme?

Politicians arguewho should run

Germany

No Action istaken to help

the unemployed!

Communist & Nazis

promise to take action

Votes for theNazis &

Communist increase.

Von Papen becomes Chancellor

in 1932

Papen is replacedby Schleicherlater that year

No Action istaken tohelp the

unemployed

Votes for theNazis &

Communist increase.

Many Germanslose their faithin Democracy

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/cclayton1-1588738-why-

was-hitler-invited-to-become-chancellor/