How did Paul von Hindenburg defeat Adolf Hitler in the 1932 presidential election?

In the 1932 presidential election, Paul von Hindenburg defeated Adolf Hitler by positioning himself as the only candidate capable of preventing Hitler from winning the presidency. Although Hindenburg was 84 years old and initially reluctant to seek a second term, his opponents—who viewed him as a necessary bulwark against Nazi lawlessness and brutality—convinced him to run.12

Hindenburg’s reelection was secured primarily through the support of the Catholic Center Party and the Social Democrats. This coalition of voters stood in contrast to the conservative nationalist circles, which had previously been close to Hindenburg but shifted their support to Hitler. While Hitler won 37 percent of the popular vote in the necessary runoff, Hindenburg’s broader base of support allowed him to retain the presidency.123