Franz von Papen was Hitler`s Deputy Chancellor during the first two years of the Nazi rule and later took a large part in the arrangements for the Anschluss.

Although a political unknown, he was chosen June, 1932 by President Paul von Hindenburg to succeed Heinrich Brüning as German chancellor in the hope that he could obtain support from right and center. He was, however, expelled from his party for accepting this post, and his cabinet won support only from a minority on the right. In seeking to weaken the left, he contributed to the rise of the Nazis, chiefly by lifting the ban on their militia.

Two successive elections failed to bring Papen substantial support in the Reichstag, and when he submitted his formal resignation after the elections of Nov., 1932, it was accepted. Kurt von Schleicher succeeded him as chancellor, but Papen remained a close confidant of Hindenburg and sought to return to power through an alliance with the Nazis.

He succeeded in bringing Adolf Hitler to power and was appointed vice chancellor in the new cabinet. Although Hitler soon eliminated his conservative allies from the cabinet, Papen continued to serve the Hitler regime, even after several of his close associates were murdered in the “blood purge” of June, 1934.

As German minister to Vienna, he helped to prepare the German annexation of Austria 1938. From 1939 to 1944 he was ambassador to Turkey.

Franz von Papen was tried after the war and a German “denazification” court classified him as a "Major Offender" and sentenced him to 8 years labour camp.