2.1.4 Hindenburg and Control, 1925-32

• While Ebert was committed to democracy, Hindenburg did not support it and was unwilling to defend democracy during the Great Depression. With other conservative nationalists, he tried to establish a presidential government
• Unlike Ebert, Hindenburg used Article 48 to attack democracy. For example, in 1932 Von Papen and Hindenburg used it to seize control of the elected SPD-led government in Prussia
• Attempts to Control Extremism Between 1930 - 1932:

  1. Bruning used Article 48 to ban political uniforms, meaning the SA could no longer wear their distinctive brown uniform. Instead, they marched wearing white shirts, which did not breach the ban as it was not a uniform
  2. Bruning persuaded Hindenburg to ban the SA in April 1932. As the police were sympathetic to them, the SA continued as an underground organisation
• Attempts to Compromise With the Nazis:

  1. Kurt von Schleicher envisaged a government led by traditional elites where the Nazis played a supporting role to give it popular legitimacy
  2. Von Papen tried to win Hitler's favour by lifting the ban on the SA and offering him a role his the cabinet
  3. Schleicher offered the vice chancellorship to Gregor Strasser to divide the Nazi party. Hitler ordered him to refuse