Hindenburg, Paul von Beneckendorff und von

Hindenburg, Paul von Beneckendorff und von (b. 2 Oct. 1847, d. 2 Aug. 1934). President of Germany 1925–34 He retired as supreme commander of the German armed forces in 1911, but re-entered the army in 1914. After his legendary victorious campaign on the Eastern Front which included the battle of Tannenberg, he became with Ludendorff the head of the German Supreme Command in 1916, in which position he became a quasi-dictator of military, political, and economic affairs. After the war he retired again until his election as German President with the support of the right. In 1932, he was the only person whose standing was so high that he could beat Hitler in the elections for President, this time with the support of the SPD and the Centre. He has often been accused of being unwilling and/or unable to stop the rise of Hitler, whom he appointed Chancellor in 1933. Yet despite the fact that the Nazi party had become the biggest party in Parliament by 1932, he refused at first to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, preferring the appointments of von Papen (1June-17 November 1932) and then K. von Schleicher (3 December 1932–28 January 1933).