Another factor was the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic. Because of the great depression in 1929, there was a big problem of rising unemployment and growing poverty throughout Germany. But the Weimar Republic seemed to have no idea on what to do in this situation. The Weimar Republic thought they only had two choices in order to get the country out of depression. On was to print more money and increase government expenditure, but this had already been tried in 1923 and resulted in hyperinflation. The government was more concerned with there not being a period of hyperinflation again than the rise in unemployment and so the Chancellor (Bruning) started to raise taxes, reduced unemployment benefits in order to balance the budget. But his made the government much more unpopular. This is of relevance to Hitler becoming Chancellor because in order for people to follow the Nazis they have to lose faith in the Weimar Republic.
Another factor that enabled Hitler to become Chancellor was the Nazis tactics and Hitler’s leadership skills. After the failure of the Munich Putsch, Hitler was convinced the only way of getting power would be by legal means. This is shown when their membership increased to over 100 000 by 1929. They also targeted successful propaganda at farmers and the middle-class from 1928 onwards. Hitler’s leadership of the party was secure and members accepted his key ideas expressed in, ‘Mein Kampf.’ (Ideas of dictatorship, racial purity, view of communism as a Jewish conspiracy, and Lebensraum). They also had an increasing use of public meetings where Hitler used his skills in giving powerful speeches. This was significant to Hitler becoming Chancellor because it won over many people setting good foundations for the future.
The other factor that let Hitler to become Chancellor, were the political manoeuvrings between Von Schleicher and Von Papen. By this time the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag, and the leader of the largest party usually becomes chancellor, but the other parties in the Reichstag refused to work with Hitler. The constitution gave the President (Hindenburg) the right to choose who he wanted Chancellor, and he did not want to choose Hitler because he despised him. Hindenburg ended up appointing Von Papen as the Chancellor of Germany. Von Papen however had no support in Reichstag. Hitler would not co-operate with him and eventually another election was called. In this election though, Von Schleicher (Hindenburg’s main advisor) stopped supporting Von Papen and decided he should be Chancellor himself. This triggered off a power struggle between the two. Von Papen agrees to work with Hitler. This results in Von Schleicher to resign since he cannot gain enough support in the Reichstag. Hindenburg is then advised to make Hitler Chancellor or he might trigger a Nazi revolt and civil war. Hitler is then appointed Chancellor of Germany.
Whilst the depression would appear to be the most important factor for Hitler becoming Chancellor in 1933, no one factor emerges alone, they are all inter-linked. Hitler’s leadership skills and the tactics of the Nazis gained support and when the depression began people voted for the Nazis. The depression led to the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic. Hitler’s leadership skills, Nazi tactics, the depression and the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic resulted in political manoeuvring between Von Schleicher and Von Papen.