How was Hitler able to become chancellor in January 1933?

The Nazis became popular with several groups:

• the military, as they resented the end of the War and the small army German was allowed after it.
• middle class people who had suffered financially after the war.
• business people, who feared the growth of Communism.
• Germans who thought the government was weak and had betrayed the people in the Peace process and the Versailles Treaty.
• farmers - because food prices were low.
• people who disliked the Jews - anti-Semites.
• thugs who found the Nazi way exciting.
• people who had no other choice - negative cohesion. This meant that they had to vote for Nazis, as the other Parties would be detrimental to them.

• The depression hit Germany hard, and by 1929 membership of the Nazi party had risen to nearly 200,000 - people wanted change.
• In the 1930 elections, the Nazis came out as the second biggest party after the Socialists.
• By April 1932, conditions were serious in Germany. Over 5 million people were unemployed and the country was desperate for a strong government.
• President Hindenburg had to stand for re-election, because his term in office had run out. Hitler stood against him along with a Communist candidate.
• Hindenburg said that he'd win easily, but didn't win a majority in the first election - in the second ballot he won 53% and beat Hitler who won 36.8% of the vote.
• Hindenburg couldn't find a Chancellor who had support in the Reichstag.
• He appointed the inexperienced Franz von Papen - who couldn't govern, so there were new elections in June 1932.
• The Nazis won 230 seats - they were now the biggest party, but didn't have a majority in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor.
• Hindenburg refused because he didn't trust Hitler and reappointed Papen. Hitler was offered the Vice-Chancellorship job instead, on the advice of von Papen.
• Hitler refused and waited for the next set of elections.

• The new government still couldn't govern properly, so new elections were called in November 1932.
• Yet again, the Nazis came out as the largest party, although their share of the vote fell. Hitler regarded this election as a failure because of 2 million lost votes and along with 38 lost seats in the Reichstag. To add to this, the Nazis were running out of funds and their leader was threatening suicide.
• Hitler again demanded his Chancellorship, but Hindenburg appointed Kurt von Schleicher as Chancellor.
• Von Schleicher only lasted a month. In January 1933, he was forced to resign and on the 30th, Hitler was offered the Chancellorship much to the amazement of the public. Hitler had finally achieved his goal.
• Hitler decided to call for another election in March 1933, hoping to make the Nazis stronger in the Reichstag.