'Backstairs Intrigue'

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Hindenburg

Hindenburg was President of Germany and faced Hitler in the 1932 presidential elections.

President and Article 48

Hindenburg was President of Germany.
Following the Great Depression, he increasingly ruled through Article 48.

1932 election

Hindenburg stood for a second term. Hitler was stood for the NSDAP. The other candidates were Duesterberg (DNVP) and Thälmann (KPD).
The SPD and centre parties did not field a candidate this time so as not to split the vote, for fear of enabling Hitler to win.

Electoral victory

Although Hindenburg was right wing and anti-Weimar Republic he had followed his presidential oath and abided by the constitution thus far.
Hindenburg’s took 49.6% of the vote, 0.4% shy of total victory. He, Hitler and Thälmann stood in the second round. Hindenburg won 53%. Hitler won 40%.
Hindenburg won because of Catholic and SPD votes. This was not his usual support base.

Francis von Papen

Papen was a Zentrum politician who became Chancellor under Hindenburg in 1932.

Political rise

Papen was a Catholic aristocrat, Zentrum politician and one of Hindenburg’s closest advisers. Papen left Zentrum two days after becoming Chancellor.
Schleicher influenced Hindenburg to make Papen Chancellor. He also chose the cabinet. It was a government of the elite, with no members from the Reichstag.

Lack of support

Papen had little support in the Reichstag even from Zentrum. Only the DNVP backed him. To gain NSDAP support he lifted the ban on the SA in June 1932.
This measure increased political violence on the streets of Berlin again as the SA fought communists in a ‘gang warfare extension of party politics.’
Papen used this violence to depose the socialist-led Prussian government and arrest leftist politicians, on the grounds of supporting Communists.
Hindenburg issued an emergency decree making the Reich Chancellor the Prussian Minister-President.

The failure of Papen's coalition

Papen could not work with the Reichstag. Hindenburg dissolved it and called for new elections, which were a disaster for the Weimar Republic.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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