PRESIDENT PAUL VON HINDENBURG
(2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934)
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg, was born at Posen in Prussia and he was incorporated in the Prussian army in 1866, where he stayed about 40 years, serving in the War of the Seven Weeks and in the Franc-Prussian War.
During an honourable but undistinguished military career, he served in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, retiring in 1911.
At the beginning of the World War I, in August of 1914, he was recalled to command the 8th German Army in the Russian border, as the nominal superior of Erich Ludendorff, a talented military strategist. Credit for Ludendorff's invasion of Russia was misdirected to Hindenburg, who was appointed field-marshal and commander of all German land forces, with Ludendorff at his side.
He oversaw the mobilisation of the whole German state for war, and became immensely popular throughout the country. Kaiser Wilhelm II was sidelined.
After the war, he retired for the second time.
In 1920, in his memories "Mein Leben" (My Life), he explains that the German defeat, in the Great War had origin in an internal revolution, which it ended the German Empire and established the Republic in 1919.
In 1925 he was elected Weimar Germany's second president, after Friedrich Ebert.
In 1930, as economic depression took hold and the government fell. In July he authorised Chancellor Heinrich Brüning to dissolve the Reichstag (Parliament).
In 1932 he run for the presidential re-election as the only candidate capable to defeat the Nazi party of Adolf Hitler, what it came to happen. At that election's he dismissed as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning, the only capable politician Weimar Germany had from 1930 to January 1933.
In the later years of his presidency, Hindenburg was heavily influenced by those who surrounded him. Hindenburg showed more and more signs of senility and was open to their suggestions. Though he disliked Hitler, he was persuaded to appoint him chancellor in January 1933.
In February of this year the Reichstag building was burned down. Hitler told to the president that it was the work of the communists in Germany and that he, as president, should introduce emergency powers. Hindenburg readily agreed. Hitler also knew how to play on the president's fear of communism. The introduction of emergency powers, legal under the Constitution, which suspended many civil liberties, was the beginning of Hitler's move into a dictatorship.
Later the Reichstag would come to give to Hitler dictatorial powers. From that date on, Hindenburg started to be a simple decorative figure in the Germanic government.
Hindenburg died at aged 86, in his Prussian estate, in August 2, 1934, and was buried at Tannenburg. Hitler used the opportunity to give him a state funeral. With his death, Hitler declared the office of President vacant and, as "Führer und Reichskanzler" (Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor), made himself Head of State.
During an honourable but undistinguished military career, he served in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, retiring in 1911.
At the beginning of the World War I, in August of 1914, he was recalled to command the 8th German Army in the Russian border, as the nominal superior of Erich Ludendorff, a talented military strategist. Credit for Ludendorff's invasion of Russia was misdirected to Hindenburg, who was appointed field-marshal and commander of all German land forces, with Ludendorff at his side.
He oversaw the mobilisation of the whole German state for war, and became immensely popular throughout the country. Kaiser Wilhelm II was sidelined.
After the war, he retired for the second time.
In 1920, in his memories "Mein Leben" (My Life), he explains that the German defeat, in the Great War had origin in an internal revolution, which it ended the German Empire and established the Republic in 1919.
In 1925 he was elected Weimar Germany's second president, after Friedrich Ebert.
In 1930, as economic depression took hold and the government fell. In July he authorised Chancellor Heinrich Brüning to dissolve the Reichstag (Parliament).
In 1932 he run for the presidential re-election as the only candidate capable to defeat the Nazi party of Adolf Hitler, what it came to happen. At that election's he dismissed as Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning, the only capable politician Weimar Germany had from 1930 to January 1933.
In the later years of his presidency, Hindenburg was heavily influenced by those who surrounded him. Hindenburg showed more and more signs of senility and was open to their suggestions. Though he disliked Hitler, he was persuaded to appoint him chancellor in January 1933.
In February of this year the Reichstag building was burned down. Hitler told to the president that it was the work of the communists in Germany and that he, as president, should introduce emergency powers. Hindenburg readily agreed. Hitler also knew how to play on the president's fear of communism. The introduction of emergency powers, legal under the Constitution, which suspended many civil liberties, was the beginning of Hitler's move into a dictatorship.
Later the Reichstag would come to give to Hitler dictatorial powers. From that date on, Hindenburg started to be a simple decorative figure in the Germanic government.
Hindenburg died at aged 86, in his Prussian estate, in August 2, 1934, and was buried at Tannenburg. Hitler used the opportunity to give him a state funeral. With his death, Hitler declared the office of President vacant and, as "Führer und Reichskanzler" (Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor), made himself Head of State.
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