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In the early 1930 Germany was in a permanent political and constitutional crisis. This was caused by rising unemployment during the great depression, combined with frustration about the perceived injustice imposed on Germany by the Versailles treaty, street violence between various extreme groups, and an inability of centrist democratic parties to cooperate. This resulted in a polarization of extremes, [[communists]] on one side and [[Nazi| national socialists]] on the other. The national socialist were also simply known as ''Hitler movement''.  

In the early 1930 Germany was in a permanent political and constitutional crisis. This was caused by rising unemployment during the great depression, combined with frustration about the perceived injustice imposed on Germany by the Versailles treaty, street violence between various extreme groups, and an inability of centrist democratic parties to cooperate. This resulted in a polarization of extremes, [[communists]] on one side and [[Nazi| national socialists]] on the other. The national socialist were also simply known as ''Hitler movement''.  

In the first election of 1932 communists and national socialist together won the majority of seats in the Reichstag. This means that the anti-democratic forces outnumbered the democratic forces. In a second election that year, the national socialists lost ground, but the democratic forces were still unable to form a functioning government. After a series of minority cabinets former Chancellor van Papen convinced President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler to become Chancellor in a coalition government with the national conservative party. Van Papen expected the nation would recognize Hitler to be a fraud within a few months in government. The national socialist celebrated the ''Machtergreifung'' (''seizure of power'' in German) on January 30, 1933, with massive marches through Berlin. Two days later new elections for parliament were announced for March.[http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/named.htm]

In the first election of 1932 communists and national socialist together won the majority of seats in the Reichstag. This means that the anti-democratic forces outnumbered the democratic forces. In a second election that year, the national socialists lost ground, but the democratic forces were still unable to form a functioning government. After a series of minority cabinets former Chancellor von Papen convinced President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler to become Chancellor in a coalition government with the national conservative party. Von Papen expected the nation would recognize Hitler to be a fraud within a few months in government. The national socialist celebrated the ''Machtergreifung'' (''seizure of power'' in German) on January 30, 1933, with massive marches through Berlin. Two days later new elections for parliament were announced for March.[http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/named.htm]

Austrian economist [[Friedrich A. Hayek]], writing in April 1945, observed, "By the time Hitler came to power, [[Classical liberalism|liberalism]] was dead in Germany. And it was socialism that had killed it. <ref>[http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Friedrich A. Hayek, Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 36.</ref>

Austrian economist [[Friedrich A. Hayek]], writing in April 1945, observed, "By the time Hitler came to power, [[Classical liberalism|liberalism]] was dead in Germany. And it was socialism that had killed it. <ref>[http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Friedrich A. Hayek, Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 36.</ref>