Is Von Papen to blame?

• Von Papen acted as a middle man between Hindenburg and Hitler


  He believed that due to Hitler's poor education and lack of experience he would be governable
• Hindenburg employed Von Papen


  Due to his aristocracy
• The French ambassador wrote that Von Papen's appointment was "met with incredulity"
• Elections held by Von Papen were a great success for Nazis winning 230 seats and became the largest party in the Reichstag


  July 1932
• Von Papen convinced Hindenburg


  A coalition government with Hitler as Chancellor would save Germany and bring stability
• Von Papen convinced Hindenburg


  If Hitler wasn't Chancellor, a revolt of the National Socialists and civil war were likely to happen
• Von Papen


  Was desperate to regain favour and power with Hindenburg after his chancellorship failed after half a year
• Von Papen was anti-democratic and anti-Weimar and thus wanted Nazis in power
• Hindenburg had refused Hitler chancellorship several times before


  Only after Von Papen, who had his ear, persuaded him with the promise of a new deal did he finally agree
• Hindenburg had been in power since 1925 without much change which indicates that he was influenced by his inner circle i.e. Von Papen
• Oskar von Hindenburg opposed the appointment of Hitler as chancellor


  But, in January 1933, he changed his mind after discussions with Von Papen and Hitler
• Kurt von Schleicher


  • Political head of the army since 1926
  • Head of the Ministerial Office whose function was to represent the army in dealings with the government since 1929
  • Instrumental in persuading Hindenburg to withdraw support for Bruning May 1932 and appoint Von Papen in his place
  • November 1932 he was deeply involved in the downfall of Von Papen as he was too independent minded for Schleicher
  • Conservative- worked for the restoration of authoritarian rule in Germany
  • Pragmatist- couldn't be achieved through a straight forward return to autocracy
  • Aimed for an alliance between old conservatism and the Nazis who would legitimise an authoritarian regime dominated by the old conservatives
• Oskar von Hindenburg


  • Major in the army
  • His father's aide-de-camp which allowed him to control access to the President
  • Highly valued opinion
• Dr Otto Meissner


  • Head of the office of the President under Ebert and Hindenburg
  • Considerable influence over Hindenburg and helped organise talks between Von Papen and Hitler that led to Hitler's chancellorship
• Proportional representation was a platform for extremism e.g. KPD, SPD, NSDAP
• Proportional representation owes the largest party's leader chancellorship
• Proportional representation leads to weak coalition governments, universal suffrage, compromise, and legislative paralysis
• The government failed in 2 months


  Made Hindenburg desperate
• The Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression caused political polarisation
• Hitler Jugend and SA provided young men with food and shelter
• 6 million unemployed- 39% men 14-25 in Hamburg June 1933
• Albert Speer: '"Hitler persuaded us, and instead of hopeless unemployment Germany could move towards economic recovery"'
• The Führerprinzip and Gauleiter system; Nazis responded much quicker than Bruning's government so they were able to tap into the discontentment of votes
• Nazi representation in the Reichstag 12-107 seats; 2nd largest party


  September 1930
• Fritz Thyssen and Alfred Hugenberg invested in Hitler Uber Deutschland
• Joseph Goebbels Reich Propaganda Chief used an array of both modern and traditional methods
• Bruning


  • Hunger chancellor- unpopular deflationary measures
  • After losing support in the Reichstag 1930 ruled by emergency decrees which suggested that democracy was no longer useful
• Political polarisation in September 1930 election- emergency decrees used more frequently
• Krupp and I.G. Farben lobbied Hindenburg and schemed behind the scenes on behalf of Hitler because they believed he would be good for business
• Hitler promised big bankers and industrialists free enterprise and the suppression of communism and the trade union movements