Ben Wilson

They were able to get ahead of the opposition who thought they were going to be able to constrain this Hitler-led government.

von Hindenburg, who had been expected to act as the most powerful restraint on Hitler.

You know, he is the revered national grandfather of Germany.

He becomes Hitler's greatest supporter.

He's proud to see so much being accomplished in his name.

He's tired of all the dysfunction.

Here's someone who's finally getting things done.

And so he supports Hitler.

So there are no more places of like powerful, independent opposition

to Hitler within just a couple of months.

He's got the military on his side.

He's got Hindenburg on his side.

He's got the conservatives on his side.

He's got the centrists on his side.

It's really only the sort of left to far left that is opposing Hitler as he's carrying out all these reforms.

Okay, so in just a couple of months, he's made incredible progress.

He's passed his enabling act.

And Hitler knew that the fractured far right would now consolidate behind him.

That he had achieved the chancellorship.

Nothing begets success like success, right?