Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 1933
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Adolf Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany is one of the most significant turning points in twentieth century history. This event allowed the Nazi Party to take control of the machinery of government and eventually led to the establishment of a totalitarian regime, the outbreak of the Second World War, and the horrors of the Holocaust. Knowing the year in which Hitler became Chancellor helps students understand the sequence of events that transformed the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, you should recall that Hitler was appointed Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg on 30 January 1933. The Nazi Party had become the largest party in the Reichstag, and conservative elites believed they could control Hitler by bringing him into government. 1932 saw repeated elections and political instability but not his appointment as Chancellor. By 1944 and 1945, Germany was in the final stages of the Second World War and Hitler had long been in power. Thus, 1933 is the correct year for his chancellorship to begin.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Weimar Republic faced economic and political crisis during the early 1930s.Step 2: The Nazi Party gained large numbers of seats in the Reichstag during elections in 1932.Step 3: Under pressure from advisors and political bargaining, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor on 30 January 1933.Step 4: Check the options: 1932, 1933, 1944, 1945.Step 5: Choose 1933 as it matches the widely known historical date of his appointment as Chancellor.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering that the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act, which allowed Hitler to pass laws without the Reichstag, both took place in 1933, shortly after he became Chancellor. These events are closely linked to the consolidation of Nazi power and are always dated to 1933. Since they occurred after his appointment, the appointment itself must also be in 1933. Any date later than this would contradict the known sequence of events leading to dictatorship.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1932 was the year of important elections and political negotiations but Hitler had not yet been appointed Chancellor.1944 and 1945 belong to the final stages of the Second World War when Hitler had already been in power for more than a decade, so they cannot represent the year he first became Chancellor.
Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse the year of Hitler's chancellorship with other major events in Nazi history, such as the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 or the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. Another mistake is to associate his rise too closely with the war itself and therefore guess a later date like 1939 or 1940. To avoid this, remember that Hitler came to power several years before the war, and that 1933 marks the beginning of Nazi rule in Germany.
Final Answer:
Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in the year 1933.
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