Europe was in chaos after World War I and Germany experienced economic and political instability. Adolf Hitler joined the National Socialist Party in 1919 and by 2921 had consolidated his power and was the sole leader of the party. The Weimar Republic was the weak central government in Germany. Hitler orchestrated a failed putsch in Munich in 1923 and sentenced to 5 years in jail. While imprisoned, he wrote Mein Kampf outlining his vision of a new Reich. He was released after several months and the Nazi Party gained 107 seats in the Reichstag election in 1930. President Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933 and with the death of Hindenburg in August 1934 Hitler took over all political power and declared himself Further, the absolute ruler of Germany.