Hitler becomes Chancellor (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Hitler becomes Chancellor
The collapse of Weimar democracy (1928-1933)
The period between 1928 and 1933 witnessed the gradual breakdown of German democracy, ultimately leading to Adolf Hitler's appointment as Chancellor. The Weimar Republic's failure stemmed from a combination of economic crisis, political instability, and the scheming of key conservative politicians who believed they could control Hitler.
The Weimar Republic, established in 1919, was Germany's first attempt at democratic government. Its constitution contained fatal flaws, including Article 48, which allowed the President to rule by decree during emergencies - a provision that would ultimately be used to destroy democracy itself.
The path to power: A timeline of events
Early crisis and coalition breakdown (1928-1930)
In June 1928, President Hindenburg appointed Hermann Müller of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as Chancellor, following elections in May 1928 where moderate parties had won the most votes. However, this stability was short-lived.
The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 devastated Germany's economy, creating mass unemployment and social unrest. The economic crisis exposed the weaknesses of the Weimar system when the Grand Coalition government collapsed in March 1930. Political parties could not agree on how to tackle the Depression, leading Hindenburg to appoint Heinrich Brüning of the Centre Party as Chancellor.
The Wall Street Crash had a particularly devastating impact on Germany because the country's economy was heavily dependent on American loans following the hyperinflation crisis of 1923. When these loans were recalled, German businesses collapsed and unemployment soared from 1.3 million in 1929 to over 6 million by 1932.
The rise of extremism (1930-1932)
The September 1930 Reichstag elections marked a turning point, with extreme parties making major gains as Germans lost faith in moderate politics. Brüning's government lacked a Reichstag majority, forcing him to increasingly rely on presidential decrees to pass laws. Between February and September 1932, the Reichstag didn't even meet, showing how parliamentary democracy was breaking down.
The presidential elections of March and April 1932 revealed the growing Nazi threat. While Hindenburg was re-elected with 53% of the vote, Hitler secured an alarming 36%, with Communist leader Ernst Thälmann winning 11%. Brüning's attempts to ban the SA (Nazi stormtroopers) and redistribute land to help the unemployed proved unpopular with both the Reichstag and Hindenburg, leading to his resignation in May 1932.
The 1932 presidential election results were a clear warning sign that democracy was in serious danger. Hitler's 36% represented over 13 million German voters - a massive increase from the 800,000 votes the Nazis received in 1928. This showed how economic desperation had driven millions of Germans towards extremism.
Political manoeuvring and the final appointment (1932-1933)
Hindenburg's appointment of Franz von Papen as Chancellor in June 1932 marked another step away from democracy. Papen wasn't even a Reichstag member and led a "Cabinet of Barons" with only two parliamentary representatives. This showed how Germany was being governed by unelected elites rather than democratic representatives.
The July 1932 elections made the Nazis the largest party, though they lacked a majority. Despite this, Hindenburg refused to make Hitler Chancellor, allowing Papen to continue ruling through presidential decree. When the Reichstag passed a vote of no confidence in September, Papen called fresh elections.
The November 1932 elections saw Nazi support decline slightly, but they remained the largest party. Hindenburg again refused Hitler the chancellorship but dismissed Papen on the advice of General Kurt von Schleicher, whom he appointed Chancellor in December 1932.
Schleicher's government quickly proved unworkable, having little support inside or outside the Reichstag. In a fateful decision, Papen convinced Hindenburg that Hitler could be controlled if appointed Chancellor with Papen as Vice-Chancellor. On 30 January 1933, Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor.
Papen's assurance to Hindenburg that "we have hired him" and that Hitler could be controlled as Chancellor proved to be one of history's most catastrophic miscalculations. Within months, Hitler had consolidated power and eliminated his conservative allies from government entirely.
Key figures in Hitler's rise
Franz von Papen's fatal miscalculation
General Franz von Papen played a crucial role in undermining the Weimar Republic. His "Cabinet of Barons" represented a complete break from parliamentary democracy, as almost none of its members were elected representatives. Though Papen personally disliked Hitler, he shared many Nazi ideas and fatally believed he could manipulate Hitler once in power. This miscalculation would prove catastrophic for Germany and the world.
Papen's political background reveals much about the conservative elite's mindset. A former monarchist and Catholic Centre Party member, he represented those who had never fully accepted democratic governance and yearned for a return to authoritarian rule - making him susceptible to Nazi manipulation.
Hindenburg's constitutional betrayal
President Paul von Hindenburg, despite being elected to protect the Republic, systematically undermined democratic governance. He appointed chancellors who lacked parliamentary support and was content to rule by decree, showing he never truly embraced democratic principles. His decision to appoint Hitler, believing he could control the Nazi leader with Papen's help, represented the final nail in democracy's coffin.
Hindenburg's age and declining mental faculties played a role in his poor judgement. At 84 in 1932, the former World War I general was increasingly influenced by his inner circle of conservative advisors who shared his disdain for parliamentary democracy and his nostalgia for imperial Germany.
Why democratic government failed
The collapse of Weimar democracy wasn't sudden but gradual. Several factors combined to create the perfect storm: economic crisis destroyed public faith in moderate parties, political fragmentation made stable government impossible, and conservative politicians prioritised their own power over democratic principles. The increasing use of presidential decrees normalised authoritarian rule, making Hitler's eventual dictatorship seem like a natural progression rather than a revolutionary break.
The tragic irony was that Hitler gained power legally, appointed by the same constitutional mechanisms designed to protect democracy. Conservative politicians like Papen and Hindenburg thought they were clever enough to use Hitler for their own purposes, not realising they were unleashing forces far beyond their control.
The Weimar Republic's collapse demonstrates how democracies can be destroyed from within using legal means. The constitution's emergency powers, designed to protect democracy during crises, instead became the tools of its destruction. Modern democracies must learn from this warning about the fragility of democratic institutions.
Timeline of major events
- May 1928: Moderate parties win Reichstag elections
- October 1929: Wall Street Crash begins German economic crisis
- March 1930: Grand Coalition collapses; Brüning becomes Chancellor
- September 1930: Extreme parties make major electoral gains
- March-April 1932: Presidential elections - Hitler wins 36% of vote
- May 1932: Brüning resigns as Chancellor
- July 1932: Nazis become largest party but lack majority
- November 1932: Nazi support declines but remain largest party
- December 1932: Schleicher appointed Chancellor
- 30 January 1933: Hitler appointed Chancellor
Key Points to Remember:
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Economic crisis was crucial - The Wall Street Crash of 1929 created the conditions that allowed extremist parties to gain support as people lost faith in moderate politics.
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Democracy died gradually - The Weimar Republic wasn't destroyed overnight but weakened through increasing use of presidential decrees and the appointment of unelected chancellors.
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Conservative politicians made fatal miscalculations - Papen and Hindenburg believed they could control Hitler and use him for their own purposes, completely underestimating his abilities and ambitions.
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Hitler gained power legally - The Nazi leader became Chancellor through constitutional means, showing how democracies can be destroyed from within using legal methods.
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Parliamentary breakdown enabled dictatorship - By 1932, the Reichstag was barely functioning, with government by decree becoming the norm, paving the way for authoritarian rule.