Political intrigue

• Despite heading the largest party in the Reichstag, following the July 1932 elections Hitler was not elected chancellor; rather, he was appointed as chancellor by the president.
• Hindenburg resisted appointing Hitler as chancellor during 1932 in spite of Hitler's growing popularity. Hindenburg viewed Hitler as an extremist, whose willingness to support the violence of street gangs made him unfit for office. For Hindenburg, Hitler was nothing more than a lower m/c corporal who did not deserve to play a leading role in an aristocratic dictatorship.
• Hitler had supporters at the top of government. Franz von Papen and Kurt von Schleicher, who were chancellors in the second half of 1932, both argued for a deal with Hitler. Both politicians envisaged an authoritarian dictatorship, led by the traditional elite but supported by the Nazis.
• The government of Bruning, von Papen and von Schleicher had all failed because they lacked popular support and could not work with the Reichstag.
• An alliance with the Nazis would give an authoritarian government popular legitimacy and a mass support in the Reichstag.
• During 1932, von Papen and von Schleicher attempted to work with Hitler.
• Von Papen lifted the ban on the SA to try to win Hitler's support, and von Schleicher offered Hitler the position of vice chancellor.
• However, Hitler was clear: he would only enter government as chancellor
• Hitler enters government:

  By the end of 1932 it was clear that Hitler would only enter government as chancellor.
• Hitler enters government

  As the economic crisis and violence on the streets continued, members of the old elite lobbied Hindenburg on Hitler's behalf.
• Hitler enters government:


  Senior military officers wanted Hitler to enter government to ensure the loyalty of the SA who could be used to fight the Red Front in the event of a communist revolution.
• Hitler enters government:


  Senior bankers and industrialists argued that Hitler should enter government in order to protect the wealth and property of Germany's m/c from the threat of a communist revolution.
• Hitler enters government:


  Von Papen was instrumental in negotiating a deal that satisfied Hindenburg. Von Papen proposed making Hitler chancellor but limiting his power by ensuring that traditional nationalists dominated his cabinet. As vice chancellor, von Papen would help control Hitler, and Hindenburg, as president, retained the power to dismiss Hitler.
• Hitler enters government:


  January 1933 Hindenburg agreed to the deal and Hitler became chancellor of Germany.
• Hitler enters government:


  However, Hitler and the Nazis outmanoeuvred von Papen and nationalists. Within 6 months Hitler had established a stable dictatorship and by mid-1934 had taken the role of both chancellor and president.