Today I recieved the following response in relation to this same question, and it goes as follows:

I am not an expert on German politics (I have an uncle who is a well known war historian but I don't think he'd appreciate a phone call from me at this time of the morning!) but this is my understanding of how Hitler came to power:

Paul von Hindenburg was Germany's president elect in 1925. It was Hindenburg that appointed Hitler (who was, at the time, the leader of the increasingly popular Nazi Party in Germany) as Chancellor of Germany in 1933, making him an official part of the ruling regime.

Hindenburg was pressured/harassed/bullied by Hitler to give him that gig, and although he apparently didn't like Hitler (even though they were both pretty horrible) he caved to Hitler's demands and gave him the role even though he'd been saying no thanks and go away Hitler for years (Hitler was an annoying little turd from the get go).

After dissolving the parliament twice, aiding the Nazi party's rise to power and dismantling agreements around civil liberties, Hindenburg signed the Enabling Act in 1933 which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic (the federal republic and semi-presidential representative democracy established in Germany in 1919) into the Third Reich.

The Enabling Act gave Hitler's administration legislative powers. Hindenburg died the following year (1934), after which Hitler declared the office of President vacant and made himself head of state.

In a nutshell, Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945.

As ill gotten as it was, Hitler was indeed head of state and horribly, everything he did was borne out of his self-appointment to that role.

So although it's totally hideous, Hitler did run the government of the day at that time in Germany. Foul.

How accurate is this?

Any help given is very much appreciated as always!