Paul von Hindenburg

Born in 1847 in Posen, then in Prussia, he built a long career in the Prussian and later German army. He retired before World War I, but returned to service in 1914 and quickly became a celebrated figure after major victories on the Eastern Front, especially at Tannenberg. Alongside Erich Ludendorff, he rose to immense influence over Germany’s wartime leadership.

After the war, his reputation as a national symbol helped carry him into politics. He was elected president of Germany in 1925 and re-elected in 1932, serving during a period marked by economic crisis, political violence, and the weakening of parliamentary government.

Hindenburg remains a deeply important and controversial historical figure. In 1933, he appointed Adolf Hitler as chancellor, a decision made amid intense political pressure and backroom bargaining, and one that proved disastrous for Germany and Europe. He died in 1934, only months before Hitler merged the presidency with his own office.