Franz von Papen

Franz von Papen was a German politician and diplomat in the early 20th century. He served as Chancellor briefly in 1932 and later as Vice Chancellor under Adolf Hitler. Initially conservative, Papen believed he could control Hitler and use him for political stability. However, his misjudgments helped Nazi rise to power. He played a role in undermining democracy, and after WWII, he was tried for crimes against peace but was never convicted. His actions reflect complexities of German politics during a turbulent period leading to World War II.