After Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933, Hess was appointed Deputy Führer of the NSDAP and in December 1933 received a post in Hitler's cabinet as a Minister without Portfolio. He was also appointed in 1938 to the Cabinet Council and in 1939 to the Council of Ministers for Defense of the Reich [de]. Hitler decreed in 1939 that Hermann Göring was his official successor, and named Hess as next in line.