Electoral support for Nazism and communism up to June 1932

Nazi and Communist Electoral Support During the Great Depression

How did the Nazis and Communists fare during the Great Depression?

Both gained electoral support, with the Nazis being far more successful than the Communists in broadening their appeal

Early Nazi Support

Before 1929, who mainly supported the Nazis?

The lower-middle class, the Mittelstand, including white-collar workers, small shopkeepers, and independent craftsmen

Expansion of Support After 1929

How did Nazi support change after the Wall Street Crash?

Support increased and their main gains were among the broader middle class and farmers

How did the Nazis appeal to farmers?

By promising higher prices and protection against imports

Evidence of Nazi success in rural areas?

In some districts in north-west Germany, they secured 68% of the vote

Support from the Middle Class and Others

Why did the middle class support the Nazis?

They were worried about a communist revolution and disillusioned with established middle-class parties such as the DVP and DNVP

Which other groups increasingly supported the Nazis?

Young voters and women

Geographical Support

Where were the Nazis strongest?

In the Protestant north, east, and centre of Germany

Where were the Nazis less successful?

In the Catholic south and west

Hindenburg’s 1932 Presidential Election

When had Paul von Hindenburg been elected President and how long did he serve?

He was elected in 1925 and served 7 years, ending his term in 1932 at age 84

Why was Hindenburg reluctant to stand for election again in 1932?

Hindenburg reluctant to stand for election again in 1932 because he felt Germany’s situation was catastrophic and was reluctant to retire

Why was Hindenburg persuaded to run again?

His main opponent on the left in 1925 had been Thälmann of the KPD

Why was Hitler initially reluctant to stand against Hindenburg?

Hindenburg was a conservative icon and revered military figure, symbol of the past

Who were the other candidates in the election?

Communist Ernst Thälmann and right-wing candidate Theodor Duesterberg

Why were two rounds of voting required?

No candidate achieved an outright majority in the first round

What were the first-round results?

Hindenburg won 49.6%, Hitler 30%, no candidate reached 50%

What happened to Duesterberg in the second ballot?

Duesterberg was no longer a candidate

Hitler’s Strategy ("Führer Over Germany")

What strategy did Hitler use in the second ballot?

He launched an intense campaign, flying all over Germany and presenting himself as a national saviour; the SA also marched and fought

Second Ballot Result (April 1932)

Who won the second ballot?

Hindenburg, with 53% (or 56%) of the vote

How much support did Hitler gain in the second ballot?

Nearly 37% (or 36.8%), with some rural areas giving him more votes than Hindenburg

Post-Election Confirmation of Nazi Strength

What did the state elections after the presidential vote show?

They confirmed the Nazis as the most popular party

What did the presidential election demonstrate about German politics?

A sharp move toward parties unsupportive of the Weimar Republic and the dramatic rise of Nazi support

Working-Class Voting Patterns

What proportion of the electorate did the working class make up?

Nearly half, making them crucial in the electoral battle between the Nazis and communists

Which parties did most working-class voters support since 1919?

SPD or the Communists, especially in large industrial centres

How did the Communist Party try to gain working-class support?

By capitalising on the economic downturn and attracting votes away from the SPD

Where was Communist support strongest?

In large cities, particularly the poorest areas such as Berlin, among unemployed manual labourers

How successful was the KPD in broadening its appeal beyond core supporters?

They increased membership and votes but could not appeal beyond established support

Nazi Party Appeal

How did the Nazis appeal to the working class?

They drew in some working-class voters, with roughly 27% of Nazi voters in 1930 being manual labourers

Did the Nazis win support from traditional SPD or KPD bases?

No, they did not succeed in winning those voters

How did the NSDAP’s electoral support change between 1930 and 1932?

They more than doubled their overall support across three main elections

What was the Nazi result in the September 1930 Reichstag election?

Seats jumped from 12 to 107

What happened by the July 1932 Reichstag election?

Nazis secured 37.3% of the vote, becoming the single largest party in Germany

How did the NSDAP’s support differ from the KPD’s?

Nazis attracted a broad range of demographics across classes, generations, and regions, becoming the main party of protest

Why was the NSDAP more effective than the KPD at broadening appeal nationally?

They appealed beyond a narrowly focused working-class base to a wider national audience