This page examines the and type of secret deals that helped the Nazis achieve political power in Germany.

1. The Nazis and the
politics of intrigue

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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).

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.