Ben Wilson

He says, look, things have been so chaotic.

I actually think we can just form a government with the NSDAP and we'll let Hitler be chancellor finally.

And we'll just take all the appointments around him basically.

And we'll keep him from doing anything too crazy.

That's his pitch to Hindenburg.

And Hindenburg is like, you know what?

I'm so tired of these revolving chancellors, of all these unstable governments, of no one being able to actually get anything done, that I'm listening, that I'm willing to hear you out.

So von Papen and Hitler negotiate a deal.

And on January 30th, 1933, von Hindenburg reluctantly appointed Adolf Hitler as chancellor of the German Reich.

It almost fell apart at the very last minute.

Hitler and von Fabian in one of these great moments of history were outside the doors of Hindenburg's office, still negotiating furiously over cabinet appointments.

The whole thing nearly collapsed at the 11th hour.

Papen really wanted to make sure to be able to hem in Hitler.

And Hitler, you know, the chancellorship is the big thing he's holding out for.

But he does still want enough National Socialist representation in the government with other cabinet positions that he can get some things done.

So he says, look, I'm willing to be hemmed in.

I'm willing to let you have the majority of the appointments.

But I do need these two or three key crucial ones.

They do strike a deal at the very last minute.

So they walk in.