The election of Hitler: Why and How?

Hitler and his Nazi party never had a majority of votes at elections. The points and promises that Hitler gave only appealed to a limited number of people, which accounted for 1/3rd of the population only. At the party's highest peak, the Nazi party had around 40% of the votes in the Reichstag, hardly enough to gain power. So how is it that in 1934, despite his relatively low power, was Hitler made chancellor? Hitler came to …

…straw was drawn when Hindenburg heard of a rumor that Schleicher was preparing a coup against him, and was planning to seize control. This put Hindenburg in a tight spot: Schleicher's poor control and a civil war outbreak, or elect Hitler as chancellor. He took the latter choice, underestimating Hitler's power and thinking he could control him. And so Hitler was made chancellor of the Weimar Republic. Resource: http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-hitlerdemo.htm