In 1925 Hindenburg was elected the second president of the republic, and although he sought German unity, he promoted the interests of the Junkers, the Prussian landed aristocracy.

In 1932 he ran for the presidency again as the only one who could defeat the National Socialist (Nazi) party candidate Adolf Hitler. Having won the election, however, on January 30^th, 1933 he appointed Hitler chancellor. Hitler soon gained complete control of the Reichstag, the lower legislative chamber, which voted him dictatorial powers on March 25^th, 1933. Thereafter, Hindenburg was only a figurehead in the German government.

Paul von Hindenburg died on August 2^nd, 1934.

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