The collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1930–1933

Appointed Minister of the Interior for Thuringia

SA activist Horst Wessel dies in Berlin from wounds sustained in a shooting on 14 January 1930. Joseph Goebbels and Nazi propaganda subsequently turn him into a party martyr.

Müller resigns on 27 March 1930 after the coalition fails to agree on financing unemployment insurance.

Hindenburg appoints Heinrich Brüning Chancellor after the collapse of Hermann Müller's coalition. Brüning's cabinet lacks a parliamentary majority and increasingly relies on presidential emergency decrees under Article 48.

Hindenburg appoints Brüning Chancellor after the collapse of the Müller coalition. The new government is designed to depend on presidential support rather than a stable Reichstag majority.

Hindenburg appoints Heinrich Brüning to succeed Hermann Müller after the Grand Coalition collapses; Brüning forms a government without a parliamentary majority.

Chancellors Brüning, Papen, Schleicher and Hitler are all Presidentially appointed dictatorships.

The new Government is expected to lead a political shift towards conservatism, based on the emergency powers granted to the Reichspresident by the constitution, since it had no majority support in the Reichstag.

The new Government is expected to lead a political shift towards conservatism, based on the emergency powers granted to the Reichspresident by the constitution, since it had no majority support in the Reichstag. Chancellors Brüning, Papen, Schleicher and Hitler are all Presidentially appointed dictatorships

Joseph Wirth serves as Reich Interior Minister in Brüning's first cabinet from 30 March 1930 until 7 October 1931.

The last Allied troops leave the Rhineland

The last Allied troops leave the Rhineland

A finance bill is defeated in the Reichstag with the support of the SPD, KPD, the NSDAP and DNVP, Brüning submits to the Reichstag the presidents decree that it will be dissolved

A finance bill is defeated in the Reichstag with the support of the SPD, KPD, the NSDAP and DNVP, Brüning submits to the Reichstag the presidents decree that it will be dissolved

A finance bill is defeated in the Reichstag with the support of the SPD, KPD, the NSDAP and DNVP, Brüning submits to the Reichstag the presidents decree that it will be dissolved

After the election Brüning attempts to reform the devastated state without a majority in Parliament, governing with the help of the Presidents emergency decrees

The Reichstag general elections result in an enormous political shift, 18.3% of the vote goes to the Nazis, five times the percentage compared to 1928. The increased representation of the NSDAP has devastating consequences for the Republic, there was no longer a moderate majority in the Reichstag even for a Great Coalition of moderate parties, and this encourages the supporters of the Nazis

After the election Brüning attempts to reform the devastated state without a majority in Parliament, governing with the help of the Presidents emergency decrees

After an unpopular bill to reform the Reichs finances is left unsupported by the Reichstag, Hindenburg establishes the bill as an emergency decree based on Article 48 of the constitution

Passes the Finance Bill by Presidential decree, cannot win a majority in the Reichstag

Leads the Grand Coalition, the last parliamentary majority government of the Weimar Republic, until its collapse over unemployment-insurance financing in March 1930.

After an unpopular bill to reform the Reichs finances is left unsupported by the Reichstag, Hindenburg establishes the bill as an emergency decree based on Article 48 of the constitution

Invokes article 48 to impose deflationary policies

Brüning is defeated & an election is called for September

The Reichstag rejects Brünings actions in passing the finance bill. Brüning is defeated & an election is called for September

After an unpopular bill to reform the Reichs finances is left unsupported by the Reichstag, Hindenburg establishes the bill as an emergency decree based on Article 48 of the constitution

Brüning assumes the Foreign Ministry as he forms his second presidential cabinet.

Brüning presents the programme of his second cabinet to the Reichstag after Hindenburg asked him to form a new government on 9 October 1931.

Appointed Minister of the Interior by Chancellor Brüning

Allies the Army with the Nazi Party

Germany imposes exchange controls after its banking crisis, ending effective gold convertibility.

Removes the prohibition on Nazi enlistment. Allows Nazis to work in arsenals & supply depots

Wins 49.6% to Hitler's 30.1% of votes during the 1st round of the elections

2nd round presidential elections, wins 53% to Hitler's 36.8%

Agrees a Presidential Cabinet of Hindenburgs choosing & dissolution of the Reichstag. Agrees a deal with the Nazis to lift the ban on the SA

Brüning resigns after Hindenburg withdraws support; Franz von Papen is then chosen to form the next presidential cabinet.

Appointed Chancellor of Germany

Forms the Cabinet of National Concentration

Appointed Minister of Finance, 1st term

Von Papen lifts the ban on the SA, imposed after the street riots, in an unsuccessful attempt to secure the backing of Hitler. Papen lifts the ban on the SA, in accordance with his promise to Schleicher

At the Conference in Lausanne reparations are fixed on a final sum of 3 billion Goldmarks, this gives a total of paid reparations of 53 Billion Goldmarks

At the Conference in Lausanne reparations are fixed on a final sum of 3 billion Goldmarks, this gives a total of paid reparations of 53 Billion Goldmarks

Otto Braun his Social Democratic Administration are deposed by Chancellor Papen

The SPD-led Prussian Government in Berlin, headed by Otto Braun, is ousted by Franz von Papen, the new Chancellor, by means of a Presidential decree, proves to be a significant factor contributing to the downfall of the Weimar Republic. Otto Braun his Social Democratic Administration are deposed by Chancellor Papen

Ends any prospect of a democratic election

Ends any prospect of a democratic election. Deposes the Prussian Government & appoints himself Reich Commissioner for Prussia

Since most parties opposed the new Government, von Papen had the Reichstag dissolved and calls for new elections

Since most parties opposed the new Government, von Papen had the Reichstag dissolved and calls for new elections

The emergency decrees carried fail to help the Papen plan stimulate the economy. Loses a vote of confidence in the Reichstag

Hitler refuses to serve as Franz von Papens vice Chancellor. Appoints as Reichswehr Minister Kurt von Schleicher and all of the members of the new cabinet are of the same political opinion as Hindenberg

Hitler refuses to serve as Franz von Papens vice Chancellor

Hitler refuses a ministry under Papen, and demands the Chancellorship for himself, but is rejected by Hindenburg

Elections yield 33.1% for the Nazis, dropping 2 million voters, Franz von Papen steps down, and is succeeded by General Kurt von Schleicher as Reichskanzler

Unable to win a majority in the Reichstag

Hindenburg urges Papens resignation

Schleicher hopes to attain a majority in the Reichstag by forming a so-called Querfront, meaning "cross-front," whereby he would unify Germany's fractious special interests around a non-parliamentary, authoritarian but participatory regime. Appointed Chancellor of Germany

Schleicher hopes to attain a majority in the Reichstag by forming a so-called Querfront, meaning "cross-front," whereby he would unify Germany's fractious special interests around a non-parliamentary, authoritarian but participatory regime

Resigns after Schleicher deserts Papen because of his reactionary policies. Papen resigns after a failure to pass his plans for a "new state"

Deserts Papen & asks for Hindenburg to force his resignation

At the Conference in Lausanne the major powers acknowledge Germany's equal rights in (re)armament

Forms the "Cabinet of Barons", 4 Barons & a Count without majority Reichstag support

Von Papen is closely associated with the industrialist and land-owning classes and pursued an extreme Conservative policy along Hindenburgs lines. Uses Schleichers list which includes 5 members of the nobility. Hindenburg tells Papen to form a Government "above parties". Appointed Chancellor of Germany

Declares martial law ending the resistance of the left & overthrowing democracy

Declares martial law ending the resistance of the left & overthrowing democracy

Appointed Minister of Finance, 1st term

Appointed President of Germany, 2nd term

Von Papen is closely associated with the industrialist and land-owning classes and pursued an extreme Conservative policy along Hindenburgs lines

Meets Papen at von Schroeders home. It is agreed Papen will ask Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor

Meets Papen at von Schroeders home. It is agreed Papen will ask Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor

Meets Hitler at von Schroeders home. It is agreed Papen will ask Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor

Appoints Hitler as Chancellor

Allows Hitler to use emergency powers under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution

Decides to appoint Hitler as Chancellor to prevent a Communist revolution

Attends the Potsdam ceremony with Hitler, symbolising conservative acceptance of the new Nazi-led Government.

Signs the Enabling Act after the Reichstag vote, allowing Hitler's cabinet to enact laws without Reichstag approval.

Appointed Prime Minister of Prussia

Splitting the Nazis under Gregor Strasser fails

Unknown to Schleicher, Papen was holding secret meetings with both Hitler and Hindenburg, who then refused Schleichers request for emergency powers and another dissolution of the Reichstag. The President dismisses Schleicher, calling Hitler into power on 30 January 1933. Resigns when Hindenburg refuses to proclaim a national emergency & call elections

Resigns when Hindenburg refuses to proclaim a national emergency & call elections

The Nazis win Lippe & create a crisis in the Schleicher Government

Instrumental in attempts to negotiate the return of the House of Hohenzollern

Less than a month after Adolf Hitler's appointment as Chancellor the Reichstag Fire Decree invokes Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, suspending several constitutional protections on civil rights