Germany had lost WW1 and was in debt. They German pride had been shattered and the Great Depression only made things worse. Hitler gave the German people a scapegoat and enthusiastically promised the German people domination of its neighbors and Europe. He slowly gained support, but he was then put as chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Germany). The President of Germany, Hindenburg, died and Hitler took this opportunity to gain control with the enabling act. What then followed was the radicalization of Germany and WW2