Definition:
  • 1925 elected as the 2nd president of Germany
  • Re-elected in 1932 in order to defeat Adolf Hitler (poor health)
  • dissolved parliament twice in 1932
  • appointed hitler as chancellor in 1933
  • Reichstag Fire Decree - martial law and suspension of civil rights
  • Signed the Enabling Act

Significance:
The stability of Weimar Republic was decreasing which played a part in the increasing popularity of the Nazi Party. He was the one who suspended civil liberties allowing the enabling act to be passed and thus Hitler's rise to power was complete.