Democracy and Nazism - Chapter 11: The appointment of Hitler as Chancellor
Groener quote: "An attempt will have to be made here...
"An attempt will have to be made here and there to harness them in a coalition and to cure them of their utopias by constructive government work" (Groener)
Alan Bullock quote: "Hitler came to power as part of a...
"Hitler came to power as part of a shoddy political deal with the 'Old Gang'... he was jobbed into office by a backstairs intrigue." (Bullock)
Otto Meisner's account quote: "Papen finally won him over with the argument that the...
"Papen finally won him over with the argument that the representatives of the other right-wing parties.. would restrict Hitler's freedom of action." (Meisner)
Goebbels' quote on the 1932 election results: "We won't get to an absolute...
"We won't get to an absolute majority this way. Something must happen. The time for opposition is over." (Goebbels)
Goebbels quote on the lack of SPD resistance to Papen: "You only have to...
"You only have to bare your teeth at the reds and they knuckle under." (Goebbels)
How many died or were injured when the police panicked and opened fire in Altona on 17 July?
18 died and over 100 were injured.
When was Hitler summoned to the office of the President of the Weimar Republic, Hindenburg?
30th January 1933
What did Papen believe the greatest threat to Germany was?
A communist revolution, and said Weimar democracy had allowed the threat to grow
How did Schleicher form his government?
After alienating Papen and losing some of Hindenburg's trust because of the conspiracy against Papen, he believed his best chance of success was with the Nazis joining him in coalition.
Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor?
Although Hitler was the leader of the largest party in the Reichstag, Hindenbuerg and Papen believed his inexperience meant that he could easily be manipulated by the experienced politicians in his cabinet.
When did Bruning impose a ban on the SA?
April 1932
What did Papen think of the Nazis?
As an aristocrat, he looked down on them. However, he sympathised with a lot of Hitler's ideas and saw the Nazis, with their popular support, as useful allies to establish a government of 'national concentration'.
Why did becoming the largest party in the Reichstag not give Hitler all the power?
Because Hitler wasn't carried into power by a wave of popular support. The NSDAP became the largest party, but did not have an absolute majority and most German voters supported other parties.
Why was Papen forced to resign?
Because Schleicher informed him that the army would not support him.
Why did Schleicher withdraw his support from the Bruning government?
Because he was concerned the ban on the SA would provoke a Nazi uprising and he concluded after the presidential election that no government could rule without Nazi support.
Why was Bruning dubbed the 'Hunger Chancellor'?
Because of his economic policies, including cutting welfare benefits, reducing the number of civil servants and cutting wages. These measures contributed to the economic Depression.
What happened in Hitler's dealings with Papen and Schleicher following the July 1932 Reichstag elections?
Because of the Nazi's strong performance, Hitler was in an even stronger position. After the election, Papen invited Hitler to join his government but Hitler refused, and would only participate if he was made Chancellor.
Why did Nazi support decline in November 1932?
Because some middle-class voters felt alienated by Hitler's attacks on Papen and his refusal to join a coalition government if he could not lead it. They also supported a communist-led transport strike in Berlin. Three election campaigns in 8 months had exhausted Nazi funds.These voters returned to the DVP and the DNVP.
Why was Schleicher's idea of getting the Nazis to join him in government not impossible necessarily? (3 reasons)
Because the Nazis had suffered setbacks in the November elections and in state elections in December, were virtually bankrupt and Hitler was being criticised by his own party for refusing to join a coalition government.
When was Bruning;s coalition government in power from?
March 1930, despite not having majority support in the Reichstag
When did Bruning's government fall?
May 1932
Did the SPD do anything after Papen's blatant attack on the democratic constitution and breach of his constitutional powers?
No, the SPD did not try to organise resistance to Papen.
What happened in the Altona suburb of Hamburg on July 17?
One of the most serious incidents of political violence. Mainly working-class district with KPD supporters was the scene of an SA march, which was confronted by several hundred communists.
Who did Papen blame for the violence in Altona on 17 July?
Papen blamed the SPD-led state government of Prussia for the breakdown of law and order, using this to dismiss the government.
How did Hitler take over as chancellor from Schleicher?
Papen was in negotiation with Hitler, who was now prepared to be in a coalition government, though still wanted to be Chancellor. Hugenberg, DNVP leader, indicated his support.
What was Schleicher instrumental in?
Persuading Hindenburg to withdraw his support of Bruning in May 1932 and appointing Papen in his place. Then, in November 1932, he was involved in the downfall of Papen.
What did Papen do to the civil service in Prussia?
Purged it of SPD supporters.
Who was Bruning's appointment by Hindenburg heavily influenced by?
Schleicher
When did Schleicher have a government?
Schleicher's government ran between December 1932 to January 1933
Why was the Nazi party a bit divided over ideology and tactics?
Strasser and Otto advocated socialist policies such as the nationalisation of banks and industrsy, and supported worker's strikes. They saw the Nazi Party as a vehicle for national revolution to sweep away the old elite.
What happened to party support as unemployment rose?
Support for the Nazi and Communist parties grew.
What were the middle and upper classes worried about by the spring of 1932?
That Germany was descending into chaos and that a communist revolution was a real possibility.
What did Papen and Hindenberg both believe about Hitler?
That he would be easy to control as he was poorly educated and inexperienced in government.
What did Hitler say in talks with Schleicher?
That he would not join a coalition government unless he was appointed Chancellor, which Schleicher didn't allow. However, Hitler agreed not to oppose a new government if there was a Reichstag election and the ban on the SA was lifted.
Who was the only political party to support Papen's coalition government?
The DNVP
Which party in particular lost lots of support and became fringe parties in the July 1932 elections?
The DVP and the State Party (DDP)
Which party became the main party of the right after the July 1932 elections?
The Nazis
What happened following a debate about a vote of no confidence in Papen's government, following the elections of July 1932?
The Nazis joined with other parties, including even the communists, to argue for a vote of no confidence. The motion passed by 512 votes to 42. This meant another election took place in November 1932.
Who could the Nazis not win votes from in the elections of July 1932?
The SPD or KPD, nor Catholic voters who mainly voted for the Centre Party.
Why did the industrialists and landowners stop supporting Schleicher? Did his socialist policies gain the support of the trade unions?
The industrialists and landowners, the backbone of German conservatism, did not like Schleicher's change to more socialist policies. He also failed to win the support of the trade unions.
Who did the Nazis attract as voters in the 1932 elections?
The unemployed and the middle-class voters, many of whom had not participated in elections before.
What happened to Otto and Strasser?
Their policies caused many potential middle-class supporters to be wary of the Nazi party and they were seen by Hitler as a threat to his authority. Strasser was purged from the party in 1930 and Gregor in 1932.
What happened after Papen lifted the ban on the SA in June 1932?
There was a new wave of street violence, especially during the Reichstag election campaign of July 1932, giving Papen an excuse to impose authoritarian rule in Prussia.
What happened to the Nazis in the November 1932 Reichstag elections?
They lost two million votes and 34 seats in the Reichstag. It appeared that Nazi support had peaked in July and was in decline.
What happened to most moderate parties, with the exception of the Centre party, in the July 1932 election?
They suffered losses, as Germany's political life became more and more polarised compared to the 1930 election.
What did Hitler's appointment include?
It involved negotiations and secret deals between many key German political figures, including Hindenburg and his close circle of advisers.
What was Papen's cabinet like?
It was known as 'the cabinet of barons'. The DNVP had two posts, the rest were filled by men who weren't members of the Reichstag and came from the landowning and industrial elite.
What was Schleicher's role in the new cabinet?
Defence minister
Who was Bruning replaced with?
Franz von Papen
Who was Franz von Papen?
Franz von Papen was a former aristocratic army officer with a wide network of political influence. He was throroughly anti-democratic and wanted to re-establish an authoritarian state. He conspired with Hitler and Hindenburg to remove Schleicher, and returned to power in coalition with Hitler.
What was Schleicher's last ditch resort before he resigned?
He asked Hindenburg to suspend the constitution, dissolve the Reichstag and give him virtually dictatorial powers. Hindenburg refused so Schleicher resigned.
What did Schleicher want to do?
He became determined to estbalish a more authoritarian style of government in Germany.
What did Schleicher do after failing to draw the Nazis into his government?
He changed tack, believing that a progressive social policy could win support from the trade unions and gain him support in the Reichstag. He cancelled the cuts in wages and benefits by Papen, considered a large-scale job creation scheme to relieve unemployment and talked about redistributing the land of large estates.
What did Franz von Papen do, following the orders of Hindenburg and Schleicher, to establish a 'government of national concentration'?
He constructed his government on a non-party political basis.
What did Papen do to get rid of democratic government in Prussia?
He declared a state of emergency in Prussia, used the army to impose order in Berlin, and appointed himself Reich Commissioner in charge of Prussia.
Why were Hindenburg's doubts laid to rest about Hitler becoming Chancellor?
He had assurances from Papen and his son that Hitler would not have a free hand to govern. Papen would be vice-Chancellor and Hugenberg would run the Economics and Food Ministries. Apart from Hitler, there would only be 2 other Nazis in government.
What did Papen do in June 1932?
He lifted the ban on the SA and imposed curbs on the left-wing press.
What did Hindenburg think of Hitler? Why would he suddenly consider him as Chancellor?
Hindenburg viewed Hitler with disdain and viewed the Nazis as noisy and undisciplined. He didn't want to make Hitler Chancellor, but after the fall of Papen he was running out of options.
Who was involved in political decisions other than President Hindenburg?
His small inner circle of advisers were involved in all key political decisions. They advised Hindenburg on appointments of chancellors. This group included Schleicher, who was political head of the army since 1926.
What happened for the Nazis in the 1932 elections?
Hitler and the Nazis had won enough votes in the 1932 elections to become the largest party in the Reichstag.
Why did Schleicher's plan to get the Nazis to join him in government fail?
Hitler refused and then got rid of Strasser and reasserted his control of the party.
What happened at the meeting of President Hindenburg and Hitler?
Hitler was invited by Hindenburg to lead a new 'government of national concentration', a coalition government in which the Nazi Party would share power with the DNVP and others, including Franz von Papen.
What was Schleicher's long term aim?
To form an alliance between the forces of old conservatism and the Nazis who, with their popular support, would legitimise an authoritarian regime dominated by aristocrats.
Why did Bruning ban the SA and was it effective?
To stop street violence, however the political situation continued to worsen and Schleicher withdrew his support.
What happened to unemployment by February 1932?
Unemployment exceeded 6 million for the first time.
When did Bruning have no alternative but to resign?
When Hindenburg, acting on Schleicher's advice, refused to sign a presidential decree Bruning had submitted.
How did Papen rule in his government?
With limited support in the Reichstag, Papen ruled by presidential decrees, which suited his authoritarianism.
