| |
| 1931, May 11 |
| |
| The failure of the Austrian Credit-Anstalt marked the beginning of the financial collapse of Central Europe, including Germany. With the financial collapse came a great economic crisis and depression. By the beginning of 1932 the number of unemployed was already more than 6 million. Economic hardship brought greater social tension: rapid growth of communism and of its opponent, national socialism. | 1 |
| |
| 1932, March 13 |
| |
| Presidential election. Hindenburg secured 18,651,497 votes as against 11,300,000 for Hitler and 4,983,341 for Thälmann (Communist). Hindenburg fell just short of the required majority. In the second election (April 10) he secured a plurality of only 6 million out of a total vote of 36 million. | 2 |
| |
| May 30 |
| |
| Brüning, who had been obliged to govern largely by emergency decrees issued by the president, resigned when the president refused to sanction a decree that would have divided bankrupt East Prussian estates into allotments for small farmers. Hindenburg, himself of the Junker class, seems to have felt that the Brüning regime was no longer popular with the public or with the army. | 3 |
| |
| May 31 |
| |
| Franz von Papen was asked by the president to form a ministry responsible to the executive alone. This ministry of barons included Constantin von Neurath (foreign minister) and Gen. Kurt von Schleicher (minister of defense). National Socialists were excluded. | 4 |
| |
| June 16 |
| |
| The government lifted a ban on Nazi storm troops, which had been imposed by Brüning (April 13). The National Socialist movement now gained great momentum. Disorders and clashes of rival groups became the order of the day. | 5 |
| |
| July 20 |
| |
| Coup d'état in Prussia. Papen removed the Socialist prime minister and other officials. Berlin and Brandenburg were put under martial law, because the activities of Nazi storm troops had made it difficult for civil authorities to maintain order. | 6 |
| |
| July 31 |
| |
| Reichstag elections, following a dissolution (June 4). The National Socialists returned 230 candidates, Socialists 133, Center 97, Communists 89. Since neither the Nazis nor the Communists would enter a coalition, no majority was possible. | 7 |
| |
| Aug. 13 |
| |
| Hitler refused Hindenburg's request that he serve as a vice chancellor under Papen. He demanded all or nothing. | 8 |
| |
| Sept. 12 |
| |
| The Reichstag dissolved. After a presidential decree had been read, a vote was taken, contrary to rules, on a Communist motion of “no confidence.” This was passed by 512 votes to 42, indicating the impossibility of securing popular support for the Papen ministry. | 9 |
| |
| Nov. 6 |
| |
| An election failed to break the Reichstag deadlock. The National Socialists lost some seats, while the Communists gained. | 10 |
| |
| Nov. 17 |
| |
| Resignation of Papen. | 11 |
| |
| Nov. 24 |
| |
| Hitler rejected the offer of the chancellorship on certain conditions. His demand for full powers was refused by Hindenburg. | 12 |
| |
| |
