Hello, and thank you for listening to a History World War II podcast, Episode 9, The

Notification of Germany.

When we last left the German people at the end of Episode 2, Adolf Hitler was made Chancellor

by agreeing to a deal with President Hinderberg and now Vice Chancellor Papin.

The two men were not comfortable with the Nazis in power, but felt somewhat secure in

the limitations they put on Hitler and his minority in the cabinet.

But honestly, they only had themselves to blame.

Just like when Mussolini came to power, the enemies of the Nazis never united and Hitler

came to power legally.

There was trickery and violence, but that's what the laws were for.

Of course they couldn't have known what we know now, but the Nazis had shown their true

colors on numerous occasions, and some of the parties should have unified, if only against

their common enemy.

But in their defense, if such a thing is needed, most people assumed that this power agreement

would just be the latest chapter in a turbulent struggle between the parties.

Big business assumed that they would be controlling Hitler, and the other conservative elements

assumed that they could use Hitler to bring back the monarchy at a later date, or at least,

an authoritarian Germany.

So the army, the president, and the conservatives thought they had come out of this latest

political crisis, more or less content.

But within hours of Hitler coming to office, he made moves to entice hands and ensure

his party would be the only legitimate power in the country.

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