pact

Question 1

Von Papen and Hindenberg’s secret pact

Answer 1

Von Papen, supported by the DNVP, and Hindenburg secretly met with wealthy industrialists and powerful politicians.
They decided that Hitler and his 196 Nazi politicians should be used to create a political majority.
They decided to make Hitler the new Chancellor, let him have a few Nazis in his cabinet and make von Papen the vice-chancellor.

They hoped that they would be able to use Hitler as a ‘puppet leader’, as the Soviet Union did in satellite states during the Cold War, whilst using Hitler’s popularity for their benefit.
They seriously underestimated Hitler’s power. Hitler was too charismatic (able to influence people) and popular to be controlled by von Papen and Hindenburg.
In January 1933, Hitler was made Chancellor.