71: 3. Gridlock and the Dissolution of the Reichstag. Timothy Ryback discusses how following Hitler's August refusal to cooperate, the Nazis actively used "obstructionist politics" to gridlock and paralyze the legislative system, using their 37% of seats to d

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John Batchelor

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🗓️ 10 November 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

3. Gridlock and the Dissolution of the Reichstag. Timothy Ryback discusses how following Hitler's August refusal to cooperate, the Nazis actively used "obstructionist politics" to gridlock and paralyze the legislative system, using their 37% of seats to destroy democracy with its own tools. Because no laws could be passed, President Hindenburg frequently resorted to constitutional powers (Article 48) to issue orders. The President of the Reichstag at this time was Hermann Göring, a decorated WWI flying ace and one of Hitler's closest lieutenants. Göring held a high social distinction, which was far above Hitler's status in Berlin circles. The Reichstag was subsequently dissolved and a new election called.
1933 hitler leaving Hindenburg after elevation.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is CBSI in the world.
0:05.8	I'm John Batchel.
0:07.1	Timothy Ryback is here.
0:08.4	Takeover is his book, Hitler's final rise to power.
0:11.7	It is August 30th, 1932.
0:14.3	Hitler has refused to join a coalition.
0:16.9	The Reichstag is still meeting.
0:19.2	A man named Poppin is the chancellor, but the Reichstag is destined to be dissolved.
0:25.4	Remember, Hindenberg has the power to appoint chancellors and to dissolve the Reichstag
0:30.8	and also to be a dictator, a one-man rule in between if he wishes.
0:35.9	But it's important to understand that Hindenburg has been in office
0:42.4	a long time now. They asked him to stay after his first term. And he stood against Hitler in the
0:48.7	spring of 32 and won by 5 million votes. He's extremely popular. But he no longer goes to the office much.
0:55.7	He stays in his family grounds in Norbeck.
1:00.3	And on August 30th, he's not at the Reichstag in Berlin.
1:03.7	He's meeting with his lieutenants at his ancestral home.
1:07.8	At the Reichstag, however, there is drama underway, not least because there is no
1:14.1	majority. And Tim, without a majority, the Reichstag is aware that it can't rule the country,
1:21.2	that it can't pass any legislation. You have a list of how many times Hindenberg has had to use his power under the
1:29.8	48th article of the Constitution to issue an order because the Reichstag can't resolve anything.
1:36.7	What is the general opinion at this point of Germany of the Reichstag? That it's unnecessary,
1:42.9	that it's broken, that it can be fixed, that democracy is
	...

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