Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
How Hitler Became Chancellor, 1932-33 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
How Did Hitler Use the Political System to Become Chancellor in January 1933? - Timeline & Summary
After the failed Munich Putsch, Hitler learnt that achieving power was not possible through violent putsches. He understood that, to take control of Germany, the people must vote for the NSDAP. In 1930, the NSDAP experienced some success in the elections. The Nazi Party achieved 18.3% of the vote, which corresponded to 107 of the 577 seats in the Reichstag. At this stage, this was the largest proportion the NSDAP had achieved in its history. It was also larger than the KPD's results, which amounted to 13% of the vote. At the same time, the SPD received roughly 25% of the vote. This indicates that more Germans believed in moderate government than in the Nazi Party. By 1932, the NSDAP became the largest party in the Reichstag. Many sectors of the German public had lost faith in moderate political parties resolving the crisis. Hitler and the Nazi Party took advantage of the situation by increasing their production of propaganda. Hitler became a national celebrity. His oration skills converted many sceptics of the NSDAP’s policies to back him. Hitler’s plan to use the electoral system to become chancellor succeeded in January 1933. President Hindenburg had very limited options but to give the chancellorship to Hitler. Due to his right-wing beliefs, Hindenburg could not accept a communist government under the KPD. At the same time, Hindenburg could no longer ignore Hitler’s power over the German people. Historians agree that Hindenburg made a serious misjudgement in believing he could control Hitler by appointing von Papen as co-chancellor. Within a year of his chancellorship, Hitler combined the powers of chancellor and president to become the Führer of Germany. |
Hindenburg & Hitler in Presidential Elections
In 1932, Hindenburg’s seven years as President had come to an end
Aged 84, Hindenburg was becoming increasingly frail
Moderate politicians persuaded Hindenburg to stand for re-election to stabilise the Weimar Republic
Hitler decided to enter the presidential election
In March 1932, the first round of presidential elections began
Hindenburg achieved 49.6%. This was not the 50% required to become president
Hitler achieved 30% of the votes
Ernst Thälmann, leader of the KPD, received 14% of the votes
In April, the government repeated the election
Hitler had relentlessly campaigned in the run-up to the election
Hitler hired an aeroplane to travel around Germany making speeches
The SA performed parades and disrupted communist meetings
Political opponents fought in the streets across Germany
The results of the election gave Hindenburg the presidency
Hitler increased his share of the votes to 36%
Thälmann fell in the polls, showing a decline in the popularity of communism
Exam Tip
Although Hitler lost the 1932 presidential elections, the margin of defeat was small. Many Weimar politicians assumed that Hindenburg would be easily re-elected. The fact that Hitler achieved 13 million votes scared many moderate parties in the Reichstag. An exam question may ask you to explain why Hitler became chancellor in 1933. You can use the 1932 presidential election as evidence of the amount of Germans who believed in Hitler’s ability to restore Germany’s economy and reputation.
Von Papen Becomes Chancellor, May 1932
Chancellor Brüning's harsh policies lost support in the Reichstag and he resigned
Hindenburg considered who should be the new chancellor
Von Papen was chosen as the new Chancellor on 30th May 1932
Why was von Papen chosen to be Chancellor in May 1932?
Von Papen was chosen to be the new chancellor for many reasons:
Von Papen was a personal friend of Hindenburg’s
The SPD, led by von Papen, held the most seats in the Reichstag
However, they did not have a clear majority
The SPD needed the support of Hitler to bring the public around to the coalition. Hitler only agreed to join this coalition if the government lifted the ban on the SA
Despite public criticism, Hindenburg announced that von Papen would be the new chancellor
There was no formal election
The German public called the government ‘the Cabinet of Barons’
This is because the coalition contained right-wing landowners, businessmen and officers
The upper classes now controlled the inner circle of the government
Their policies did not benefit the lower classes
It marked the Nazi Party’s first involvement in government
Some politicians believed Hitler could be controlled if given a small amount of power
The July 1932 Elections
In the July 1932 election, the NSDAP was the biggest party in the Reichstag
The Nazi Party received 38% of the vote
This was not the 50% needed to have a majority in the Reichstag
The NSDAP’s share of the votes had increased from 18% in 1930
Hitler demanded that Hindenburg appoint him as chancellor
Hindenburg ignored Hitler’s request and kept von Papen as chancellor
Hindenburg disliked Hitler and hoped public opinion would turn against the NSDAP
Hindenburg called for another election in November 1932
The NSDAP retained their position as the biggest party
Their share of the votes had reduced to 33%
NSDAP support from the middle class reduced because Hitler verbally attacked von Papen
The KPD had grown their representation in the Reichstag, achieving 17% of the votes
Von Papen could no longer remain chancellor of Germany because the SPD did not have a majority in the Reichstag
Hindenburg persuaded von Papen to resign
Hitler Becomes Chancellor, January 1933
Von Schleicher was appointed chancellor
He weakened the people’s trust in the Weimar Republic as he suggested running Germany through a military dictatorship
On 30th January, von Papen suggested that Hindenburg should:
Replace von Schleicher with Hitler
Appoint von Papen as Hitler's co-chancellor
Hindenburg and von Papen made this decision because:
They both believed they had Hitler ‘in their hand’
They wanted to make all the decisions about Germany
Von Papen’s plan succeeded in persuading Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor on 30th January 1933
What caused Hitler to become chancellor?
Factor | How did this factor cause Hitler to become chancellor? |
|---|---|
Hitler’s personal appeal | Hitler’s oration skills persuaded more and more of the German public to vote for the NSDAP |
The policies of the NSDAP | Hitler’s policies created national unity and common enemies of the German state |
The weakness of the Weimar Constitution | Proportional representation made it nearly impossible for political parties to gain a majority in the Reichstag. The chancellors continually abused Article 48. This turned the public away from democracy. It also made Hitler's actions look appropriate |
The economic collapse of 1929-33 | Germany had suffered two depressions in a decade. The people did not trust moderate parties in times of crisis. They looked to Hitler for an alternative solution |
Hindenburg | Hindenburg allowed and condoned the abuse of Article 48. He never fully supported the Weimar Republic. His actions weakened the power of the Reichstag and people’s belief in democracy. The public looked to Hitler for a strong ruler |
Von Papen | Von Papen ignored election results to favour a government controlled by the wealthy. This weakened the people’s trust in the Weimar Republic. |
Underestimating Hitler’s power | Von Papen and Hindenburg believed they could control Hitler and the NSDAP. Hitler used their naivety to his advantage. He used Weimar’s legal system to manoeuvre himself to the position of Führer of Germany by 1934 |
Worked Example
Give two things you can infer from Source A about how Hitler became chancellor in January 1933
4 marks
Source A: A cartoon called ‘The Temporary Triangle’ by the British political magazine Punch. It shows Hitler on the shoulders of President Hindenburg (on the left) and von Papen (on the right)
Answers:
i) What I can infer:
I can infer that Hitler was supported by Hindenburg and von Papen (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
Hitler is on the shoulders of Hindenburg and von Papen (1)
ii) What I can infer:
I can also infer that Hitler was in control when he became chancellor (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
Hitler is pushing Hindenburg’s and von Papen’s heads down. He is also higher than Hindenburg, who was the president (1)
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