Appointment of Kurt von Schleicher as Reich Chancellor

© Simon Wiesenthal Center The Strasser brothers headed the left wing of the Nazi Party. While they were as racist and anti-Semitic as other Nazis, they opposed and criticized some of Hitler's political and economic policies and left the Party. Gregor was murdered and Otto fled to Switzerland

The third of December 1932 gives Germany its third Reich Chancellor within a year: In the place of Franz von Papen, who had clearly counted on being re-appointed, Reich President Paul von Hindenburg installs the former Reich Defence Minister Kurt von Schleicher as head of government. To overcome the political crisis, von Schleicher plans to form a non-partisan labour front which is supposed to extend from the left wing of the NSDAP to the SPD. With the goal of splitting the national socialist movement, the new Reich Chancellor, Gregor Strasser, submits an offer to give the National Socialists the vice-chancellorship as well as several important ministries. Strasser, chief of the left wing of the NSDAP, is completely open to the offer, which also includes a pledge to finally take effective measures against the country’s catastrophic unemployment. When Hitler learns of Strasser’s position, he goes into a fit of rage in front of the assembled leadership of the party. Strasser is then forced to resign from all party functions.