Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg (
listen (help·info)), kent universally as Paul von Hindenburg (German: [ˈpaʊl fɔn ˈhɪndn̩bʊɐ̯k] (
listen); 2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) wos a Generalfeldmarschall an statesman that commanded the German militar in the seicont hauf o Warld War I afore later bein electit Preses o the Weimar republic in 1925. He played a key role in the Nazi "Seizur o Pouer" in Januar 1933 whan, unner pressur, he appyntit Adolf Hitler chancellor o a "Govrenment o Naitional Concentration", even tho the Nazis war a minority in cabinet.
Hindenburg reteert frae the airmy for the first time in 1911, but wis recawed shortly efter the ootbreak o Warld War I in 1914. He first cam tae naitional attention at the age o 66 as the veector o the decisive Battle o Tannenberg in August 1914. Upon bein named Germany's Chief o the General Staff in August 1916, his popularity amang the German public increased exponentially tae the pynt o giein rise tae an undeemous personality cult. As Kaiser Wilhelm II increasinly delegatit his pouer as Supreme Warlaird tae the German heich command, Hindenburg an his depute Erich Ludendorff ultimately formed a de facto militar dictatorship that dominatit German policymakkin for the rest o the war.
Hindenburg reteert again in 1919, but returned tae public life in 1925 tae be electit the seicont Preses o Germany. In 1932, Hindenburg wis persuadit tae run for re-election as German Preses, awtho 84 year auld an in puir heal, acause he wis conseedert the anerly candidate that coud defeat Hitler. Hindenburg wis re-electit in a runaff. He wis opponed tae Hitler an wis a major player in the increasin poleetical instability in the Weimar Republic that endit wi Hitler's rise tae pouer. He dissowled the Reichstag twice in 1932 an feenally, unner pressur, greed tae appynt Hitler Chancellor o Germany in Januar 1933. Hindenburg did this tae satisfee Hitler's demands that he shoud play a pairt in the Weimar Govrenment, syne Hitler wis the leader o the Nazi pairty that haed wan the lairgest plurality in the November 1932 elections (na pairty achieved a majority). In Februar, he signed aff on the Reichstag Fire Decree, that suspendit various ceevil liberties, an in Mairch he signed the Enablin Act o 1933, that gae Hitler's regime arbitrar pouers. Hindenburg dee'd the follaein year, efter that Hitler declared himsel Führer, or supreme leader, that supersedit baith the Preses an Chancellor.