Papen, Franz von

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Papen, Franz von (1879–1969) German statesman, chancellor (1932). A member of the Catholic Centre Party, Papen resigned the chancellorship after only six months, and persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Adolf Hitler as his successor. He served (1933–34) as Hitler's vice-chancellor. As ambassador to Austria (1936–38), he pressed for Anschluss. In 1946, he was acquitted of war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials.

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