German re-armament
Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1933 marked the end of the Weimar Republic. The following years, disregarding the confining Versailles Treaty, the Nazi regime intensified the German re-armament ("Aufrüstung") and increased the size of the military. As part of this process, Mattenklott received the command of the newly formed Infantry Regiment "Stargard" on 1 October 1934 and he was promoted to "Oberst" (Colonel) on the same day.