I understand that if Hitler had not become chancellor, Franz von Papen would probably have become chancellor instead: he was angling for that position anyway before accepting the position of vice-chancellor in the belief that he would be able to control Hitler. Is this a correct assumption to make, or could that position have also gone to Heinrich Brüning or to Kurt von Schleicher?
And, once Paul von Hindenburg had died in 1934, who would have been the most likely presidential candidates? Would Erich Ludendorff have been able to make a showing? Or are there no obviously viable contenders?