This is the first scholarly biography of Heinrich Brüning, chancellor of Germany from 1930 to 1932, and the last politican with a real chance to prevent the Nazi seizure of power. This book analyzes Brüning's cabinet's economic and fiscal policies for coping with the Great Depression, the diplomatic campaign to redress Germany's grievances against the Treaty of Versailles, and his thoughtful strategy for creating a broad anti-fascist political coalition. Finally it seeks to explain why President Hindenburg and his reactionary advisers decided to topple Brüning, with disastrous consequences.