Weimar Junta

A military steps in and seizes power in Germany and bans the Nazi Party. As a result, World War 2 never happens and USSR never becomes a superpower.

POD
After the second 1932 election in Weimar Republic, Von Hindenburg attempts to create a broad unity government between the democratic parties, NSDAP and the comunists. The last ones reject the offer but Hitler agrees hoping to seize power as the chancellor. However, his Enabling At is voted down and the government falls almost immediately after Hindenburg's death in August 1933. Beforehand however, they agreed to transition Germny into a presidential republic with executive control held completely by the president. Hitler hoped that the new sytem would allow him to establish NSDAP control of the government.

The presidential election is held in January 1934. Hitler comes first with 43% of the vote ahead of the Zentrum and SDP backed Hans Vogel (38%) and KPD's Thälmann (14%). In the second round, Thälmann dropped out just 5 days before the election endorsing Vogel. Vogel was narrowly elected with 51.5% of the vote.

Hitler, knowing that Vogel intended to ban his party, decided to launch a coup on 29 January. He marched with 150 thousand SA members on Berlin and, after some skirmishes, defeated the Reichswehr forcing Vogel to escape. Hitler intended to capture other cites in Germany at the same time, however Reichswehr and communist militias put up substantial resistance, securing Ruhr, Munich and Frankfurt among others. Realising the severity of the situation, Vogel appointed general Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord as his Vice-President, leaving him de facto in charge of the country.

French president, conservative Albert Lebrun was growing worried both by Hitler's coup and the communist influence. He sent the famous Lebrun memo to Hamerstein urging him to suspend democracy and offering to send military aid and to renegotiatie some Versialles terms. Hammerstein moved quickly to create a pro-government militia and expand the Reichswehr. He attacked Berlin hoping to retake it from Hitler and, in early March, defeted SA there, which, while numerically superior, was often poorly armed. Hitler was killed. Within several months, the government established control of the country again.

Hammerstein had no intention to reestablish democratic rule. He forced Vogel to resign, making himself president. He banned NSDAP, KPD and DVNP and replaced their seats in the parliament with his personal supporters. By the end of 1934, Weimar Republic had become a dictatorship.