Semantics and language are actually important here, IMHO. Democracy-"the system" saved itself here. This is somewhat distinct from who or what people vote for.
This is what I mean by the advantage of the "democratic system." Democracy can always save a country from the mess. As for why it’s in the mess, don’t worry about that.
Presidents may be impeached, removed from office, or even die, but the system will never fail.
> Democracy can always save a country from the mess.
Unless the people themselves want to give up on democracy and… oh, I don't know, let's pick a random example out of thin air… storm government buildings to stop the process to keep their desired leader in power.
To be fair (however painfully), a healthy percentage of those people believed they were there to save democracy.
We all believe things that are poorly-supported by facts, possibly serving an agenda we don't understand, and are clearly stupid when viewed rationally and with better information.
I will not defend their actions, but I have some compassion for the well-meaning dupes, and I wish the legal process could neuter their manipulator-perpetrators.
And then they all get pardoned, including the neonazis, by said leader that is elected 4 years later because the people have very short memory and he wants to protect his brown shirts.
Just a technical nitpick: Hitler was appointed by President Hindenburg, not directly elected. However Hindenburg was directly elected and Hitler was leader of the party that received the most votes (though still a minority).