Von Hindenburg lives until 1940

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Von Schadewald
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Von Hindenburg lives until 1940

#1

Post by Von Schadewald » 05 Apr 2005, 11:23

Such was senile von Hindenburg's popularity, that Hitler did not remove him from the presidency and waited until his death in 1934 before dissolving the government. If von Hindenburg had not gone senile and had lived until 1940, assuming Hitler also dares not remove him or hasten his death, would there have been any major diference from OTL? Could a WW2 start with von Hindenburg still alive? I think not.

On the other hand, "the wicked are like the driven sea that cannot rest" (Isaiah 57), and an impatient 44 year old Hitler may be unable to wait, and have sent an SA assassin to smother the Von with a cushion.
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Futurist
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Re: Von Hindenburg lives until 1940

#2

Post by Futurist » 21 Aug 2016, 04:14

Couldn't the Nazis simply impose an age limit for the German Presidency in this TL and thus force President Hindenburg to retire in 1939 (when the seven-year-term that he was elected to back in 1932 finally expired), though?


maltesefalcon
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Re: Von Hindenburg lives until 1940nd

#3

Post by maltesefalcon » 21 Aug 2016, 15:05

By 1940 he would have been 93 years old. Even barring his genuine health issues he would have been old and frail. Easy for Hitler to manipulate him as required perhaps? (Speculation of course...)
Also bear in mind there would need to be at least 1 more election for him to stay that long. He only stood for the post reluctantly in 1932.
Hard to see him running 7 years later.

Futurist
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Re: Von Hindenburg lives until 1940nd

#4

Post by Futurist » 21 Aug 2016, 15:42

maltesefalcon wrote:Hard to see him running 7 years later.
If Hitler will even allow him to run 7 years later, that is.

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