Chancellor Franz von Papen Votes in the Reichstag Election (November 6, 1932)

Franz von Papen (1879-1969), a Center Party member and arch-conservative Catholic who had supported Hindenburg over his own party’s Wilhelm Marx in the 1925 presidential election, served as chancellor from June until December 1932. Ruling by decree, Papen and his anti-democratic, inexperienced “cabinet of barons” were unable to either govern or to fully implement their reactionary constitutional reforms. Appointed by Hindenburg to explore options for a new cabinet after the resignation of his successor, Kurt von Schleicher, Papen led a conspiracy to have Hitler appointed chancellor. Ultimately, Papen became convinced that his path to power rested in Adolf Hitler, whom he believed he could manipulate as his puppet.

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Photographer: Georg Pahl
© Bundesarchiv