Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Schleicher's Chancellorship

Von Schleicher was appointed Chancellor to replace von Papen. Schleicher was a solution to the Chancellorship problem which President Hindenburg faced. Hindenburg did not want to appoint Hitler as Chancellor despite the election results from November 1932 in which the Nazis were the largest party.

Schleicher’s chancellorship was short. He was appointed in December 1932 and in January 1933, Hitler was made Chancellor. Schleicher had the same problems which von Papen had faced. Schleicher did not have the support of the Reichstag, so could not govern effectively.

Instead of resigning, Schleicher asked Hindenburg to appoint him the head of a military dictatorship to run Germany with the help of the army. Schleicher was sacked as Chancellor after Von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor with Von Papen as Vice Chancellor.

Von Papen thought that he could control Hitler. It was this belief which allowed Hindenburg to agree and choose Hitler as Chancellor.