Rise of the Nazis: performance in Reichstag and

presidential elections

The extent of the Nazis’ electoral success is shown in Hitler eventually becoming

Chancellor in 1933.

Until then the Nazis had seen mixed electoral success,

showing strengths in the mid-1920s, followed by decline, and then eventual triumph,

achieving power in Germany.

Reichstag elections

In May 1924, the Nazis gained 6.5% of the national vote (32/472 deputies in the

Reichstag) when Hitler was still in prison.

By December 1924 – after Hitler’s release from prison –

they saw their share of the vote fall to 3% (14/493 deputies).

The Nazi decline continued four years later in May 1928 when their vote again fell, to 2.6%

(12/491 deputies).

By 1930 the financial crisis had hit. Bruning’s decision to call early elections in September

1930 led to a huge Nazi upsurge. They received 18.3% of the vote

(102/577 deputies).

Elections in July 1932 saw another big increase for the Nazis

(after Hitler had been a presidential candidate). The

Nazis gained 37.3% of the vote (230/608 deputies).

By November 1932 their vote had declined to 33.1% (196/584 deputies), but they were still the

Reichstag’s dominant party.

The Nazis’ November 1932 success was enough to secure the Chancellorship in January 1933. However Hitler wanted

complete power and called elections for March 1933.

March’s elections were the high point of Nazi election success; they gained 43.9% of the vote

(288/647 deputies).

The Nazis' electoral success can be tracked against Germany’s

economic performance.

During times of economic strife, Hitler’s simple message

and solutions gained public interest, which declined as the

economy improved. Equally when the economy again fell,

voters looked to the Nazis.

Presidential elections

The March and April (run-off) 1925 presidential elections

had seen the triumph of Paul von Hindenburg.

Hindenburg had been helped by the left’s splits. The

Communist decision to not back centrist Wilhelm Marx

helped Hindenburg win.

President Hindenburg was 84 years old by March 1932. He did not want to stand for re-election but was opposed to

seeing Hitler win.

Chancellor Bruning had tried to secure a deal to keep

Hindenburg as President without an election, but could

not get enough support.

In the March 1932 election, no candidate received 50%+, so

Deusterberg dropped out.

Candidate Party %Paul von

HindenburgIndependent 49.6

Adolf Hitler Nazi Party 30.1

Ernst Thalmann KDP 13.2

Theodor Deusterberg

Stahlhelm 6.8

In the April 1932 run-off election, Hindenburg emerged

as the winner. However the election had helped Hitler build

a major national profile.

Candidate Party %Paul von

HindenburgIndependent 53

Adolf Hitler Nazi Party 36.8

Ernst Thalmann KDP 10.2

The 1932 presidential election had a mixed impact on Hitler. He was disappointed not to

receive more votes.

However he did increase his support in the run-off elections. Also his public profile acted as a

springboard for greater Nazi success in the 1932 Reichstag

elections.

Historians’ views

• Detlef Muhlberger (2003): The middle classes “responded strongly” to the Nazis but “there was also a surprisingly high level of support from the working class.”

• Tim Kirk (2007): By the time it reached its peak of electoral success in July 1932, the NSDAP represented a greater range of social and economic groups than any of its competitors, although the middle classes were the main group.

• Peter Fritzsche (2008): The Great Depression “speeded up the Nazis gains after 1929” but was not only relevant factor.