This Day in the Law
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January 30

Hitler Appointed Chancellor of Germany (1933)


On January 30, 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Germany. Over the next six years Hitler consolidated all the main power in Germany into his position as chancellor. He also promised to restore Germany to its once great power under his new form of government called The Third Reich, and his actions eventually led to World War II. However, many people don’t know that the vast majority of German people voted against Hitler.

In the German presidential election of 1932, there were four candidates including Paul von Hindenburg, Adolph Hitler, Ernst Thaelmann, and Theodore Duesterberg. The vote results were as follows: Hindenburg – 49.6%; Hitler – 30.1%; Thaelmann – 13.2%; and Dusterberg – 6.8%. (www.fff.org) In other words, nearly 70% of the German people voted against Hitler and his party. So, how did Hitler become chancellor and rise to such power?

Well, Hitler and his party created a great deal of unrest in the streets and government of Germany. Hindenburg actually did appoint two different individuals to the position of chancellor prior to appointing Hitler. However, these two chancellors were unable to secure majority coalitions in the Reichstag (i.e. Germany’s equivalent of Congress). After further unrest and Hitler’s demand to be appointed chancellor, Hindenburg finally gave into Hitler and appointed him chancellor on January 30, 1933.

Hitler and the Nazis never gained more than 37% of the national vote, held only a minority of cabinet posts, and fewer than 50% percent of the seats in the Reichstag. However, Hitler was able to dramatically consolidate power to the Nazis and his position as chancellor.

For example, Hitler passed the Enabling Act which made the chancellor dictator of Germany and gave him more power than the German President. He created the Gestapo (i.e. secret state police) which hunted down, jailed, beat, and/or killed his enemies and opponents. In fact, by the time President Hindenburg died in 1934, Hitler had complete control of Germany, and within a few more years Germany began World War II.