Hitler's appointment as Chancellor - January 1933
Backstairs Intrigue - explained
1. Context: Weimar Germany’s Political Instability (Early 1930s)
2. Failure of Moderate Governments and Growing Pressure
3. Papen’s Intrigue: Seeking to Regain Power
4. Hindenburg’s Reluctance and Political Advisers’ Role
5. Backstairs Negotiations
6. Hindenburg’s Decision (Late January 1933)
7. Immediate Aftermath
Summary of Backstairs Intrigue:
- The Weimar Republic was plagued by economic crisis (Great Depression), political fragmentation, and rising extremist parties.
- No party could secure a stable majority in the Reichstag.
- The Nazi Party (NSDAP) had become the largest single party in the July 1932 elections with 230 seats but without an absolute majority.
- Previous chancellors (Brüning, Papen, Schleicher) struggled to form stable governments.
2. Failure of Moderate Governments and Growing Pressure
- Chancellor Franz von Papen (appointed July 1932 by President Hindenburg) tried to govern with limited Reichstag support.
- Papen lost Reichstag confidence and was forced to resign in December 1932.
- His successor, General Kurt von Schleicher, tried to create a coalition but failed due to lack of Nazi support.
- Schleicher’s government was weak and isolated.
3. Papen’s Intrigue: Seeking to Regain Power
- Papen, although ousted, was ambitious and sought to regain influence.
- He believed he could control Hitler by bringing him into government.
- Papen secretly met with Hitler and Nazi leaders.
- Papen convinced President Hindenburg that a coalition with Hitler as Chancellor, with Papen as Vice-Chancellor, could stabilize Germany and keep Hitler "in check."
4. Hindenburg’s Reluctance and Political Advisers’ Role
- Hindenburg was initially hostile to Hitler due to his radicalism and lack of aristocratic background.
- However, Hindenburg’s circle, including advisers like Franz von Papen and other conservatives, pressured him.
- They argued that Hitler’s mass support made him inevitable and that the Nazis could be controlled within a cabinet dominated by conservatives.
- Papen promised to act as a counterweight to Hitler.
5. Backstairs Negotiations
- Papen and Hitler engaged in secret negotiations, discussing cabinet posts and political strategies.
- Papen insisted on the inclusion of conservatives and military men in the cabinet to limit Nazi power.
- Hitler demanded the chancellorship as a non-negotiable condition.
- The two reached a compromise: Hitler would become Chancellor; Papen would be Vice-Chancellor; conservatives would dominate key ministries.
6. Hindenburg’s Decision (Late January 1933)
- After days of intense lobbying and political crisis, Hindenburg agreed.
- Despite personal misgivings, Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor on January 30, 1933.
- Papen famously told Hindenburg: "We have hired him," believing Hitler could be controlled.
7. Immediate Aftermath
- Hitler’s appointment marked a turning point.
- The cabinet looked conservative but allowed Hitler to consolidate power rapidly.
- Papen and other conservatives underestimated Hitler’s political skill and ambitions.
- Within months, Hitler dismantled the Weimar Republic’s democratic institutions.
Summary of Backstairs Intrigue:
- Political deadlock in Weimar Germany.
- Papen’s ambition to regain influence.
- Secret negotiations between Papen and Hitler.
- Conservative elites’ belief they could control Hitler.
- Hindenburg’s reluctant but pressured appointment of Hitler.
- The fatal underestimation of Hitler’s power by conservative politicians.
