Germany, 1918–1945 – The Collapse of Democracy, 1928–1933: Hindenburg,…

The idea

Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on 30 January 1933 resulted from complex 'backstairs intrigue' among conservative elites rather than direct electoral victory. President Hindenburg, who initially despised Hitler, was persuaded by Franz von Papen to appoint him. Papen, seeking revenge after being ousted by Kurt von Schleicher, believed he could control Hitler within a conservative cabinet, famously claiming they would 'push him into a corner'. Schleicher’s own chancellorship had collapsed after he alienated both the left and right, failing to split the Nazi party. This fatal political manoeuvring by Hindenburg, Papen, and Schleicher handed power to the Nazis, demonstrating how traditional elites drastically underestimated Hitler.

What earns the marks

• Explain Papen's motivation to ally with Hitler to regain power and exact revenge on Schleicher.
• Analyse Schleicher's failure to maintain a stable government, specifically his unsuccessful attempt to split the Nazi party using Gregor Strasser.
• Evaluate Hindenburg's role and his transition from refusing Hitler the chancellorship in August 1932 to conceding in January 1933.
• Assess the miscalculation of the conservative elites who believed they could 'tame' Hitler by limiting Nazi cabinet positions to just three.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming Hitler was elected Chancellor by a popular vote.

  Put it right: Clarify that Hitler was appointed by President Hindenburg under Article 53 of the Weimar Constitution, following backroom deals, not a direct public election.

• Stating Hindenburg eagerly supported Hitler's appointment.

  Put it right: Emphasise that Hindenburg disliked Hitler, calling him the 'Bohemian corporal', and only appointed him when other options were exhausted.

• Confusing the chronological order of Chancellors.

  Put it right: Ensure the correct sequence is maintained: Heinrich Brüning, Franz von Papen, Kurt von Schleicher, then Adolf Hitler.

Exam tips

• Use the phrase 'backstairs intrigue' to explicitly address the role of elite political manoeuvring in the collapse of Weimar democracy.
• Contrast the electoral decline of the Nazis in November 1932 with their political triumph in January 1933 to highlight the importance of elite collusion.
• When evaluating the reasons for Hitler's appointment, weigh the importance of conservative miscalculations against the broader context of the Great Depression.