Reichspräsident

The Reichspräsident was the head of state of Germany from 1919 to 1945, during the Weimar Republic and the early Nazi era. The office was established by the Weimar Constitution, which was adopted on August 11, 1919. The Reichspräsident was directly elected by the people for a seven-year term and held significant powers, including the appointment and dismissal of the Chancellor, the dissolution of the Reichstag, and the command of the armed forces.

Friedrich Ebert was the first Reichspräsident, serving from 1919 until his death in 1925. He was succeeded by Paul von Hindenburg, who served until his death in 1934. Hindenburg's presidency was marked by increasing political instability and the rise of Adolf Hitler. Following Hindenburg's death, Hitler, as Chancellor, merged the offices of Reichspräsident and Reichskanzler, effectively abolishing the former and assuming dictatorial powers as Führer und Reichskanzler.

The Reichspräsident's powers were a subject of much debate during the Weimar Republic. Article 48 of the constitution granted the Reichspräsident emergency powers to rule by decree, which was used frequently and contributed to the erosion of democratic norms. The office was ultimately a key component in the transition from a democratic republic to an authoritarian state.