Kurt von Schleicher

Kurt von Schleicher (7 April 1882 - 30 June 1934) was a German general and the last Chancellor of the Weimar Republic.

Schleicher became a major figure behind the scenes in the government of Heinrich Brüning between 1930 and 1932, serving as an aide to General Wilhelm Groener, the Minister of Defense. Eventually, Schleicher, who established a close relationship with President Paul von Hindenburg, came into conflict with Brüning and Groener, and his intrigues were largely responsible for their fall in May of 1932.

Schleicher became Minister of Defense under the new Chancellor, Franz von Papen, whom he had hand-picked, but the two came into conflict, and when, following the November 1932 elections, the government could not maintain a working parliamentary majority, Papen was forced to resign, and Schleicher succeeded him as Chancellor of Germany.

Schleicher hoped to attain a majority in the Reichstag by a combination with the Social Democratic labor unions and the more left-wing Nazis, led by Gregor Strasser. Although he made some initial progress, he was ultimately rebuffed by both sides. Meanwhile, the ousted Papen, who now had Hindenburg's ear, was urging the aged President to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in a coalition with the Nationalists, who, together with Papen, would be able to moderate Nazi excesses. Hindenburg refused Schleicher's request for emergency powers and another dissolution of the Reichstag, and dismissed him, calling Hitler into power on January 30, 1933.

Schleicher and his wife Elizabeth were murdered during the Night of the Long Knives on June 30, 1934, along with other supposed enemies of the National Socialist regime.