How did Hitler become chancellor in 1933?

The election results were disappointing for the Nazis who had lost almost 2million votes and subsequently 38 seats were lost in the Reichstag. Again, Hindenburg refused Hitler the position. Although in the December of 1932, Hindenburg chose Kurt von Schleicher to be chancellor. Schleicher was one of Hindenburg own advisers and a bitter rival to von Papen. However, within a month von Schleicher was forced to resign. The Weimar system was very clearly not working.

Von Papen and Hindenburg son tried to persuade and convince the president that they could control Hitler and limit his influence. Hindenburg was not convinced but by this time, he had run out of options and he finally agreed to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor. On 30th January 1933, Hitler was only one of three Nazis in a cabinet of twelve, but he was soon able to consolidate his power. Hitler had ended up being chancellor because both Hindenburg and von Papen had greatly underestimated Hitler's power; they were convinced that they could control him. They were wrong.

They did not just pick Hitler out of hat for the position, they selected him for his many great attributes that made him one of the most influential, but also one of the most dangerous men of his time.

Hitler's superior speaking skills made him able to influence the views and opinions of the German nation. His persuasive language and intensity at his many rallies and public meetings made the German public believe him. Flyers, posters and other propaganda were all around the German people, constantly swaying their opinions about Hitler, The Nazis, Current affairs and Communism all in favour of the Nazis; Responsible for this was Joseph Goebbels. Joseph Goebbels was a propaganda genius, he use the Nazis achievements together with the failures of the democratic system and threats from communism to gain both positive and negative cohesion. Adults were not the only victims of the Nazi propaganda children were influenced as well.

The criticisms of the Weimar system and of democracy gained the support of nationalists, Industrialists and Businessmen. The businessmen and industrialists were worried about communist, they had herd of about what had happened in Russia and didn't want the same thing to happen in Germany, This is a form of negative cohesion.

The Nazi campaign methods were very modern and effective, they used generalised slogans rather than detailed policies. They talked about traditional values and going back to them, they never made very clear what this meant, thus making criticism very hard. If a policy was criticised they were likely to drop it. The Nazis blamed, at every opportunity, The Jews, the Weimar politicians, The T of V and the ' November Criminals '.

The president Hindenburg needed a strong chancellor, someone who could control, and had support of, the Reichstag. The failure of the Weimar govt. was obvious to the public, the general German attitude was that democracy and the democratic parties had failed them

Hitler had it all, the support of the German people and the support of the Reichstag.