Paul von Hindenburg was a big deal: World War I hero, trusted man in time of German disintegration. When he became President the country was a disaster. Due to money being worthless, people were starving, and fights broke out everywhere. And right in the middle of it? Adolf Hitler, the one who promised the most, shouting louder than everyone else.
Hindenburg didn’t trust him. He considered Hitler to be nothing but a crazy loudmouth who should not have run a country. Hitler’s party kept winning more and more votes, and by this point old, tired, and already in his 80s, Hindenburg had few options left. He was advised to make Hitler Chancellor. We’ll control him."
Bad idea.
Hindenburg gave in to Hitler to become Chancellor in January 1933. Hindenburg’s presence did thwart Hitler from going too far, for a little while. Only that Hitler had to play that he respected the old man.
In August 1934, Hindenburg died and that was it. Soon Hitler got the upper hand, he assumed full power and was calling himself Führer. Rules no longer exist, there is no one to halt his ascend. In one bad decision, at the death of one man, Germany lay under a dictator.
Credit: (Zain Ali )
Related:
How did Hitler manage to rebuild and rearm Germany’s military, despite the financial burdens of the Versailles Treaty, and turn it into one of the most powerful armed forces in the world?
Germany was shit out of luck following World War I. Defeated, humiliated and broke — the nation had lost its money, its army and its sense of purpose. And then the Treaty of Versailles came along and kicked it while it was down. Crushing debt, no army and no geopolitical influence.
Folks were starving. Inflation made money worthless. Work disappeared. The entire place was coming apart. ( Read Full )
