Torten
Well-known member
- Location
- Wessex, UK
- Pronouns
- He/Him
According to wiki, Crown Prince Wilhelm was interested in running for the German Presidency in 1932, but his father forbid him from running as he preferred Hindenburg. But say Hindenburg decided not to run or was unable to run due to poor health, and Wilhelm II agrees to Crown Prince Wilhelm runnning for the Presidency as Wilhelm Von Hohenzollern, Former Crown Prince and General.
It's unlikely that the SPD and the other Liberal parties would back Wilhelm, as the former Crown Prince was a member of Der Stalhelm and was a firm monarchist. Der Stalhelm ran Theodor Duesterberg, who recieved 6.8% of the vote in the first round of the election - Der Stalhem wouldn't run a candiate if Wilhelm was running.
Hitler ran for the Presidency as well, a decision that broke the Harzburg front between the NSDAP and the DNVP. The NSDAP were intially doubtful about running Hitler in the election, though this had much to do with Hindenburg's popularity. Additionally, Wilhelm might sapp support from a Hitler bid.
Almost certainly, the Reichbanner and the SPD would run a candiate.
Wilhelm stands a very good chance of winning in my view, especially if the NSDAP chose to back him. I've put some rough results in below to suggest how the election could have gone.
If Hitler runs
CP Wilhelm ~ 35%
Reichbanner/SPD Candiate ~ 30%
Hitler ~ 25%
Thalmann (Communist) ~ 10%
In this scenario, Wilhelm would probably win the runoff.
If Hitler doesn't run
CP Wilhelm ~ 55%
Reichbanner/SPD Candiate ~ 35%
Thalmann (Communist) ~ 10%
The most obvious consequence of Wilhelm's election would be the complete destruction of the Weimar Republic within a few years. Hindenburg was prepared to play lip service to the Republic as a way to build up Germany's strength. Wilhelm's endgame is going to be restoring the German Empire with either himself or his father at the helm. How he goes about that is interesting - if Hitler backed him for the Presidency, he might appoint Hitler as Chancellor in the hope that he can control him?
Any thoughts?
It's unlikely that the SPD and the other Liberal parties would back Wilhelm, as the former Crown Prince was a member of Der Stalhelm and was a firm monarchist. Der Stalhelm ran Theodor Duesterberg, who recieved 6.8% of the vote in the first round of the election - Der Stalhem wouldn't run a candiate if Wilhelm was running.
Hitler ran for the Presidency as well, a decision that broke the Harzburg front between the NSDAP and the DNVP. The NSDAP were intially doubtful about running Hitler in the election, though this had much to do with Hindenburg's popularity. Additionally, Wilhelm might sapp support from a Hitler bid.
Almost certainly, the Reichbanner and the SPD would run a candiate.
Wilhelm stands a very good chance of winning in my view, especially if the NSDAP chose to back him. I've put some rough results in below to suggest how the election could have gone.
If Hitler runs
CP Wilhelm ~ 35%
Reichbanner/SPD Candiate ~ 30%
Hitler ~ 25%
Thalmann (Communist) ~ 10%
In this scenario, Wilhelm would probably win the runoff.
If Hitler doesn't run
CP Wilhelm ~ 55%
Reichbanner/SPD Candiate ~ 35%
Thalmann (Communist) ~ 10%
The most obvious consequence of Wilhelm's election would be the complete destruction of the Weimar Republic within a few years. Hindenburg was prepared to play lip service to the Republic as a way to build up Germany's strength. Wilhelm's endgame is going to be restoring the German Empire with either himself or his father at the helm. How he goes about that is interesting - if Hitler backed him for the Presidency, he might appoint Hitler as Chancellor in the hope that he can control him?
Any thoughts?