82 Years Ago Today: Adolf Hitler elected president of Germany

Aug. 19, 1934 is the day which Hitler's rise to power as "Fuhrer" is complete.

Hitler's journey from obscure political rabble-rouser to supreme and absolute leader of a world super power had begun a little over a year and a half earlier when on January 30, 1933 the venerable Paul Von Hindenburg, then President of Germany, reluctantly names Hitler Chancellor of Germany following the Nazi party success in the Reichstag elections.

The next step down the road to oblivion for Germany came less than a month later when on February 27, 1933 the Reichstag burned. The fire was quickly blamed on the Communists as an act of terrorism. Following the fire, Hitler requested and Hindenburg agreed, that the Reichstag pass emergency powers in this time of "crisis". The result was two key pieces of legislation. First was the Enabling Act of 1933 which gave the Chancellor of Germany virtual dictatorial powers with the only check on his power coming from the President. Second was the Reichstag Fire Decree which suspended key constitutional freedoms "until further notice".

The next step towards absolute power for Hitler came on August 2nd 1934 when President Hindenburg (the only man left alive in Germany who could still legally stand up to Hitler) died. With Hindenburg dead, Hitler called for a nationwide plebiscite vote where the people were given a "yes" or "no" option on Hitler becoming the next president of Germany. This vote was held on August 19, 1934. Hitler won the Presidency with 90% of the vote from a turnout of roughly 95% of registered voters.

Hitler's election as president meant that the positions of chancellor and president were now merged into one person with absolute power over the government and armed forces of Germany. Hitler and the Nazis were now free to unleash their nightmare version of statism and socialism upon the world.