Papen, Franz Von

(born Oct. 29, 1879, Werl, Ger.—died May 2, 1969, Obersasbach, W.Ger.) German politician. He served as military attaché in Washington, D.C. (1913–15), but was recalled on espionage charges.

A monarchist member of the German Reichstag (1921–32), he was chosen chancellor in 1932, but he was soon ousted by Kurt von Schleicher. In revenge, Papen persuaded Paul von Hindenburg to appoint Adolf Hitler as chancellor and himself as vice chancellor. Papen resigned in 1934 when he was unable to restrain the Nazis' push for power. As ambassador to Austria (1934–38), he worked for Austria's annexation to Germany. He was ambassador to Turkey (1939–44). Arrested in 1945, he was tried and acquitted at the Nürnberg trials; sentenced to prison by a German court as a Nazi, he was released on appeal in 1949.

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