How Hitler became Chancellor and Führer

Since Adolf Hitler is a strongly condemned political leader, the circumstances around his rise to power are very interesting. Germany's desperation post-World War I, the Great Depression, hyperinflation and emerging communism promoted this process.

Suffering after WWI
WWI ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. In it, the Allied countries required Germany to pay war reparations, surrender territory and reduce the power of its defence forces. These provisions (along with a declaration to surrender) were a large blow to Germany's national pride. Also, the indecisiveness of the democratic Weimar Republic meant that laws took a long time to be passed.


This 1000 Reichsmark note was overstamped to a face value of 1 000 000 000 Reichsmark.

The German economy suffered in two ways during some of this period. The country was required to pay currency as part of its reparations, which was financed substantially by printing extra currency. This caused hyperinflation of the Reichsmark, even during the Great Depression following the US stock market crash. Face values fell well below the cost of the paper, leading to (among other things) persons' burning it as firewood during famine winters. Even though it ended after three years (with the introduction of the Rentenmark), a lack of popular confidence was cast on the financial system (substantially comprised of Jews).

Enter Hitler

Hitler's DAP (predecessor to the Nazi Party) membership card.

Seeking participation in politics, Hitler joined the German Workers' Party (progressing to the NSDAP or Nazi Party), which was notably far-right in the political spectrum. It promoted (among other things) nationalism, anti-communism, economic recovery and abandoning the Treaty (though the anti-Semitism can be observed in the rhetoric). He possessed a demonstrated charisma and easily appealed to most of Germany's citizens. Hitler eventually became the sole leader of the party.

The following circumstances existed for the Weimar Republic:

• The system of government at this time was parliamentary republic under constitution, which made for several political parties to contend for the popular vote. In it, there was a President (elected by popular vote) who ceremonially signed bills into law, and a Chancellor (approved by parliament after nomination by the President) who led the party in government.
• The Weimar Constitution codified civil liberties such as habeas corpus (freedom from unlawful detainment), freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy of telecommunication and protection of property and home.
• The Weimar Constitution allowed the President to issue decrees (which did not need parliamentary approval) in times of emergency.
• The Weimar Constitution placed limits on the laws that can be made, and any deviation was considered a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag parliament.

The fire at the Reichstag
Das Andere Deutschland was rendered verbot (forbidden) under the Reichstag Fire Decree.

On January 1933, Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor after nomination by President Paul von Hindenburg. A month later, a fire occurred in the Reichstag building. Communist Marinus van der Lubbe was found inside after the fire was extinguished, which the Nazi Party used as evidence of a Communist uprising. President von Hindenburg signed the Reichstag Fire Decree into law a day later, which allowed the beforementioned civil liberties to be suspended, so as to quickly arrest communists suspected to be involved and ban the Communist Party. However, Hitler (being head of the executive) also used the Decree to arrest anyone and suppress any publication deemed unfriendly to Nazi ideology.

Enabling Hitler to act

Hitler (wearing light clothing) presents his speech promoting the Enabling Act.

The Nazi Party started drafting an Enabling Act on March 1933, which would allow them to pass laws without needing it to go through the parliamentary process (as required by the Constitution). However, because it would allow deviation from the Constitution, it needed to be passed with a two-thirds majority as an amendment. On voting on the bill later in the month, support was won to achieve the majority, with the Communist Party banned at the time and the Social Democratic Party the only party to vote against it.

The perfect storm
The German people wanted the former glory of their nation to be restored. A communist happened to be found in the burnt Reichstag building. The Decree suspended several basic civil liberties, while the Enabling Act diminished the importance of the parliamentary process. Both could be renewed when close to expiry. Hitler was the sole leader of the Nazi Party and could wield both instruments as a dictator. The senile President von Hindenburg seeked minimal participation in politics, and when he passed, Hitler assumed his powers. It comes to little surprise that Hitler's rise to power was entirely legal and compatible with popular German opinion (however much it contained desperation).


A chocolate model of the Reichstag building, which would have melted under fire.