Hitler Becomes Chancellor 1932–33
The Political Crisis of 1932
By late 1932, Germany’s democratic system was in crisis. The Reichstag was paralysed — no single party had a majority, and coalitions kept collapsing. President Hindenburg was ruling by emergency decree under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution. Two Reichstag elections in 1932 (July and November) failed to produce a workable government. Voters were exhausted and disillusioned with democracy.
In the July 1932 election, the Nazis became the largest party with 230 seats (37.3% of the vote). Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor, but President Hindenburg refused. Hindenburg despised Hitler, calling him a “Bohemian corporal” and insisting he would never hand power to such a man.
Hitler did not seize power by force. He was appointed Chancellor through political scheming and backroom deals between Hindenburg, von Papen, and von Schleicher. Understanding this distinction is essential for the exam.
The Role of Franz von Papen
Franz von Papen had been Chancellor from June to November 1932. He was a wealthy, aristocratic politician who had very little support in the Reichstag — his government was nicknamed the “cabinet of barons.” When von Papen could not command a majority, Hindenburg replaced him with General Kurt von Schleicher in December 1932.
Von Papen was furious at being replaced and wanted revenge on von Schleicher. He began secret negotiations with Hitler, proposing a deal: Hitler would become Chancellor, and von Papen would become Vice-Chancellor. Von Papen believed he could control Hitler. He famously said, “Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far into a corner that he’ll squeak.”
Von Papen’s plan was to surround Hitler with conservative ministers who would keep him in check. Only three of the twelve cabinet members would be Nazis. Von Papen assumed that Hitler, inexperienced in government, would be a puppet Chancellor while the conservatives pulled the strings behind the scenes. This proved to be one of the greatest miscalculations in modern history — within months, Hitler had dismantled democracy entirely.
The Fall of Von Schleicher
General Kurt von Schleicher lasted only 57 days as Chancellor. He tried to split the Nazi Party by offering the deputy leader, Gregor Strasser, a place in government. This failed. Von Schleicher then asked Hindenburg for the power to dissolve the Reichstag and rule by emergency decree, but Hindenburg refused — partly because von Papen had been whispering in his ear, telling him there was a better alternative.
Von Schleicher resigned on 28 January 1933. Hindenburg now faced a choice: either call yet another election (the fifth in a year, which would further destabilise Germany) or appoint a new Chancellor who might be able to command a Reichstag majority. Von Papen persuaded Hindenburg that a Hitler-led coalition was the safest option.
Hitler Appointed Chancellor — 30 January 1933
On 30 January 1933, President Hindenburg reluctantly appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. The Nazi Party celebrated with a torchlight parade through the streets of Berlin. Hitler had achieved power not through a revolution or a military coup, but through the legal mechanisms of the Weimar Constitution — the very system he intended to destroy.
Hitler became Chancellor because of a combination of factors: the failure of other chancellors (Brüning, von Papen, von Schleicher), von Papen’s scheming and desire for revenge, Hindenburg’s exhaustion with political instability, and the Nazis’ status as the largest party in the Reichstag.
Hindenburg was 85 years old and increasingly frail. He had already refused Hitler once after the July 1932 election, but the political situation had only worsened. Von Schleicher’s failure left Hindenburg with few options. Von Papen convinced him that a coalition with only three Nazi cabinet members could be controlled. Hindenburg also feared that refusing Hitler again might provoke a Nazi uprising or civil war. Reluctantly, he agreed — a decision he would not live long enough to regret in full.
The November 1932 Election — A Warning Sign?
It is worth noting that in the November 1932 Reichstag election, Nazi support actually fell from 230 seats to 196 seats. The party was running out of money, and some voters were drifting back to other parties. Some historians argue that if Hindenburg had held out a little longer, the Nazi threat might have faded. Instead, the backroom deal between von Papen and Hitler gave the Nazis power at the very moment their electoral momentum was stalling.
Brüning resigns
Hindenburg loses confidence in his Chancellor. Von Papen takes over.
Reichstag election
Nazis win 230 seats. Hitler demands Chancellorship; Hindenburg refuses.
Reichstag election
Nazi seats fall to 196. Von Papen resigns. Von Schleicher becomes Chancellor.
Von Schleicher resigns
After just 57 days. Von Papen brokers the deal with Hitler.
Hitler appointed Chancellor
Hindenburg reluctantly agrees. Only 3 of 12 cabinet members are Nazis.