WI: Hitler Burns Alive in Reichstag Fire (1933)

Me, I think the Reichswehr had a much better reputation in general, and for stability than the unruly SA could manage.
The only problem would seem to be a shortage of manpower, and if Hitler was dead as early as the Reichstag fire, then the Arrmy could probably have bought the Steel Helmets on board.
Although without Hitler, it would seem much more likely that the Von Papen Coup would have succeeded, until someone brighter than Von Papen could take over.

Hmn... any chance of the German Social Democratic Party filling in? Otto Wels becoming Chancellor?
 
Hmn... any chance of the German Social Democratic Party filling in? Otto Wels becoming Chancellor?
The trouble the Social democrats had is that neither the communists or the right wing liked them and wouldn't work with them.
What the Right wing needed, or felt it needed was to control the Reichstag in order to marginalise it, much like Bismarck had. The SD was largely dependent on the Reichstag, and hated Von Papen.
 
I think a lot also depends on who's holding the old fart's hand when he signs his decree naming a new chancellor.
 
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