The Nazis and the politics of intrigue

The Nazi path to power was helped by the so-called politics of intrigue. In

simple terms, this means plots and secret deals aided

the Nazis, deliberately or inadvertently.

There were numerous individuals and groups that

were involved in these actions.

Heinrich Bruning

Chancellor Bruning persuaded Hindenburg to force through laws by decree, undermining

German democracy.

In addition he convinced the President to call early

elections in September 1930, which in fact saw a huge surge in Nazi support and influence.

Franz von Papen

Papen was friends with Schleicher having known

him since they both attended the Prussian Military

Academy.

It was Schleicher that in May 1932 had persuaded

Hindenburg to appoint Papen as German Chancellor.

In September 1932, Papen had persuaded Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag but not

call new elections.

Schleicher opposed this, believing that without elections the country would fall into civil

war. Schleicher eventually persuaded the President to

remove Papen.

Papen blamed Schleicher for his problems and removal as

Chancellor and sought revenge.

In January 1933, Papen met with Hitler and agreed to be his Vice-Chancellor (believing that

he would control Hitler).

Papen persuaded Hindenburg not to back Schleicher and

instead make Hitler Chancellor.

Kurt von Schleicher

Schleicher played a role in changing various governments

and Chancellors in Germany. These changes helped

undermine public confidence in democracy.

Schleicher also believed that he was the strong leader which

Germany needed.

Schleicher had a good relationship with Hindenburg –

not least because of his friendship with the President’s

son, Oskar.

Schleicher originally persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Bruning as Chancellor.

Schleicher also eventually turned against Bruning, asking the President to remove him.

Schleicher also played a role in convincing Hindenburg that Papen should be appointed

Chancellor.

This included plans to select the government from the

country’s elite – and not the Reichstag – which hurt the

idea of parliamentary government and democracy.

Papen’s problems governing led Schleicher to push Hindenburg

to remove him from power.

Schleicher had also started manoeuvring to become the Chancellor. He built links with trade unions and some Nazi members, including Gregor Strasser (who later left the

National Socialists).

Once he was appointed as Chancellor, Schleicher found governing difficult, failing to win support from the Left or

the Right.

After Schleicher had fallen out with Oskar Hindenburg,

Papen persuaded the President to remove Schleicher and

appoint Hitler as Chancellor.

Schleicher had recognised that he was likely to be removed as Chancellor and blamed Papen

for this.

He believed that Papen – and not Hitler – would be made

Chancellor and so devoted all of his energy to arguing

against Papen, doing nothing to stop the Hitler challenge.

Paul von Hindenburg

As President, Hindenburg was responsible for appointing the

country’s Chancellor, and dissolving the Reichstag.

As such, Hindenburg was at the centre of all political intrigue, whether being influenced or

ultimately making the key decisions.

Each time a Chancellor was appointed and removed –

whether Bruning, Papen or Schleicher – it was

Hindenburg’s decision.

He was heavily influenced by a small group of men - often called a camarilla - which

included his son, Oskar, and for a long time, Schleicher.

Hindenburg’s decision to regularly change Chancellors was partly a result of the Reichstag’s

divisions. However it also undermined confidence in

democracy.

The fact that he was persuaded to make these changes, and also call early elections or use Article 48

powers, hurt Weimar too.

German elites

Members of Germany’s elite – including industrialists and

Junkers – also influenced Hindenburg, and plotted

against those they opposed.

Bruning was removed partly because of elite Germans’

opposition to his land reform proposals.

Under Papen’s government the political divisions in

Germany led industrialists and bankers – led by Hjalmar

Schacht – to ask Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor.

At this point, Hitler ultimately failed to meet the condition

that this would only happen if he gained Reichstag support.

During Schleicher’s reign, members of the elite were

alarmed by his resurrection of Bruning's land plans.

This led to further demands from this group for Hitler to be

appointed Chancellor. Most members of the elite believed that this was the only way to

stabilise Germany, and stop any Communist advance.

Historians’ views

• Ian Kershaw: Hitler needed the elite to gain power but they needed him to be able to impose an authoritarian government.

• Conan Fischer: The elites miscalculated that they could put Hitler into power and then control.

• Mary Fulbrook: By 1933 the elites wanted to see authoritarian government and so persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler.

• Eugene Anderson: An elite group of Germans put the Nazis into power, wrongly believing that they could control them.