Hitler's Austrian Roots: How Did He Become Chancellor?

Adolf Hitler was born in Austria and moved to Munich, Germany, in 1913, possibly to avoid conscription in the Austrian army. He was sent back to Austria by the police, but failed his physical exams and was allowed to return to Munich without serving. When World War I broke out, he volunteered for the Bavarian army and was granted special permission to join despite his Austrian citizenship. The authorities later questioned why he had not been deported back to Austria to serve in the Austrian army, but no one could provide an explanation. It is likely that the authorities simply overlooked his Austrian citizenship and enlisted him by mistake.

Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933

Hitler moved from Vienna to Munich in 1913, possibly to avoid conscription in Austria. He was sent back to Austria by the police, but he failed his physical exams and was allowed to return to Munich without serving. He then fought in the German army while still an Austrian citizen. It seems that the authorities simply missed the fact that he was Austrian and signed him up in error.

Hitler formally renounced his Austrian citizenship on 7 April 1925. By this time, the political climate in Germany had become less combative and the economy had improved, limiting Hitler's opportunities for political agitation. However, he continued to seek political power, promising to do so only through the democratic process.

It is unclear exactly how Hitler rose to such a high position of power in Germany despite being Austrian. However, it seems that a combination of bureaucratic errors, his own efforts to evade conscription, and the changing political climate in Germany all played a role in his rise to power.

This was due to a series of electoral victories by the Nazi Party

Hitler was born in Austria and moved to Germany in 1913, possibly to evade Austrian conscription. He fought for the German Army while still an Austrian citizen. In 1925, he renounced his Austrian citizenship.

Hitler's rise to power was due to a series of electoral victories by the Nazi Party. In the national election of 1928, the Nazi Party won 2.6% of the vote. By September 1930, this had risen to more than 18%. In 1932, Hitler opposed Hindenburg in the presidential election, capturing 36.8% of the votes on the second ballot. In January 1933, Hitler was named chancellor of Germany. In August 1934, Hitler was officially elected president of Germany with a 90% majority. He abolished the title of president in favour of "Führer and Reich Chancellor", giving him supreme and unlimited power.

Hitler refused to work with other political parties

Hitler was born in Austria and moved to Germany in 1913 to evade Austrian conscription. He was sent back to Austria, where he failed his physical exams and was allowed to return to Munich without serving. During this time, he fought for the German Army while still being an Austrian citizen. In 1925, Hitler formally renounced his Austrian citizenship.

Hitler's refusal to work with other political parties stemmed from his belief in the superiority of his own ideology and his distrust of anyone who did not share his extreme views. He saw himself as the only person capable of leading Germany and believed that any compromise with other parties would dilute his vision for the country.

Hitler's rise to power was marked by his ability to exploit the political and economic instability in Germany at the time. He presented himself as a strong leader who could restore order and bring about change. He effectively used propaganda and public speaking to gain support for his Nazi Party, which he positioned as the only legitimate alternative to the established political parties.

The Nazi Party's rapid growth and popularity threatened the established political order, and Hitler was seen as a dangerous extremist by many. However, his refusal to work with other parties also meant that he was unable to form a governing coalition, which initially prevented him from gaining power through democratic means.

Despite his refusal to work with other political parties, Hitler eventually became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. This was due to a combination of factors, including the support of President Paul von Hindenburg, who appointed him, and the Nazi Party's strong showing in the 1932 and 1933 elections. Hitler's appointment as Chancellor ultimately led to the establishment of a one-party state and the consolidation of his power.

German President Paul von Hindenburg initially resisted appointing Hitler

In a series of complicated negotiations, ex-Chancellor Franz von Papen, backed by prominent German businessmen and the conservative German National People’s Party (DNVP), convinced Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor. Hindenburg gave in and appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, as the result of a political deal. Certain conservative politicians convinced President Hindenburg to make the appointment, wanting to use the Nazi Party’s popularity for their own purposes. They mistakenly believed that they could control Hitler. Hindenburg was pressured by his conservative inner circle and in response to the Nazi party’s growing power, he appointed Hitler to the leadership position, assured by his advisors that the Nazi agenda would be squelched.

Hindenburg gave in as a result of a political deal

Hitler's rise to power was orchestrated by former chancellor Franz von Papen and other backroom players, who sold it to ageing president Paul von Hindenburg. On January 30th, 1933, Hindenburg finally relented, offering the chancellorship to Hitler and inviting him to form a government.

Hindenburg's advisors believed that the responsibility of being in power would make Hitler moderate his views, and that they would be able to control him. They also agreed on a number of points, including a fierce opposition to communism, hostility to democracy, and eagerness for Lebensraum—additional land for the German Volk.

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