How did Hitler become chancellor in 1933 GCSE

How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933

Germany had been recovering from its own economic crisis for six years, however its upward climb would soon come tumbling down, as the American Stock Market collapsed. America recalled its 800 million gold mark loans to Germany in order to steady its own economy. This caused havoc with Germany, 5 banks closed and around 20 000 businesses went bankrupt as they were unable to pay back the borrowed money. People lost their jobs, five and a half million out of work with 17 million Germans on the dole. The few who were in work found their wages were cut leading to many becoming homeless. Many Germans felt hopeless and began to lose faith in democracy and the Weimar system of government.

Proportional Representation in the Weimar Government meant that no party held a majority. Therefore, Germany was run by the Grand Coalition. This coalition was made up of five parties, resulting in constant in-house arguing, the coalition could never decide on anything. Chancellor Bruning eventually decided to cut wages , increase tax and lower the amount given for unemployment benefit. The public became frustrated, many thinking that democracy and the Weimar, was not capable of bringing Germany into a new age. Due to this, one of the parties, the Social democrats left the government, leaving the coalition unable to function. Sensing that the Government would soon collapse, Bruning used Article 48, which allowed the traditionalist President Hindenburg to rule by decree.
The public saw Hindenburg as the end of democracy, and so they looked towards the extreme ends of the political spectrum to find something that they could trust and believe in.

In the 1928 Reichstag election, the Nazi party had acquired just 2.6% of the vote, 12 seats. They were described as a 'tiny fringe party', with just 800 000 members.
However, during the run up to the 1932 election they would soon become more popular as they had one thing that no other party had, Hitler. The Nazis used him and his charismatic speeches to convince people that they were the party, strong enough to support Germany. They reinforced extreme nationalistic views, such as denial of German citizenship to Jewish people and decreed that the Treaty of Versailles was a crime and an attempt to crush Germany. They also promised to destroy communism and all those who stood in the way of the new, reborn Germany and its people. The public were excited by the Nazi party's leader and their dynamic campaign methods. They used mass propaganda; posters, pamphlets, flyers, torchlit parades and a message that inspired- 'One People, One Nation, One leader'.

They were a 'catch all party' who appealed to most, due to their broad message that seemed to benefit all. Unemployed to be given work and food. Farmers, an end to depression and employers, the ability to control trade unions. They even persuaded the Middle classes, who believed the Nazis were the only ones who could protect them from the Red Menace of a Communist Germany.
The Nazis wanted this new Germany to be ordered and disciplined, with a strong focus on National Unity.

Chancellor Bruning was governing between 1930 and 1932. He heavily relied on article 48 and was unpopular for making poor decisions. Hindenburg was an old man who was really a puppet, being controlled from behind by Army General Schleicher. Schleicher whispered in Hindenburg's ear and told him that he should let Bruning go. Hindenburg did just that and hired Franz Von Papen of the Centre Party in May 1932.
Von Papen hated the Weimar Government and was unpopular in the Reichstag with only 68 supporters. In an effort to gain more popularity and seats, Papen called the July 1932 election that was incredibly successful for the Nazi party, gaining 230 seats and receiving 37.3% of the vote. They still did not have a majority in the Reichstag, with Hitler losing out to Hindenburg for Presidency. This led Hitler to demand to Hindenburg that he should be Chancellor.
Hindenburg refused, claiming that the Nazis were violent, ill disciplined and intolerant, leaving Papen still as Chancellor.
Papen called another election in November, to which he lost seats. In his anger, he appealed for Hindenburg to cease the Reichstag so he could rule by decree, Hindenburg accepted. In spite of that, Schleicher suggested to Hindenburg that the exremists would be enraged by this and the whole of Germany would be up in arms. Hindenburg realised this and von Papen resigned. Shleicher picked up the reigns of Chancellor. However, he also did not gain a majority in the Reichstag and therefore Hindenburg asked him to resign.
Franz Von Papen persuaded Hindenburg that they could use Hitler to destroy democracy and to bring in a new, powerful and traditional Germany. Having said that, to control him, only 3 other Nazis would be in the cabinet, the rest being Centre Party conservatives. Hindenburg agreed and offered Hitler the job of Chancellor, he accepted in January 1933.

However both of these men were wrong, they underestimated the power of Hitler and the Nazi party. They saw Hitler as a little upstart corporal who had won a few medals in the war and was of no real threat. He was incredibly devious and clever and had the innate ability to convince people of anything. He was charming and spellbinding, with a powerful delivery of speech.
The most overwhelming success of Hitler and the Nazis, has to be their message and their campaigns. They delivered everything that the public wanted. They showed them a stronger alternative to democracy after it had failed Germany and its people. They made sure they covered every archetype of person with a core message of a powerful authoritarian government led by a strong and inspirational Fuhrer that would return their country to its former glory as one of the most powerful nations after the travesty of the Treaty of Versailles.
Without this, von Papen and Hindenburg would never even have thought about Hitler as Chancellor, but due to his enormous backing and love by the people of Germany, Hitler was able to reach the position he needed to reshape the country in his view.