nazis in the wilderness 1924-1929

Mein Kampf

The book that Hitler wrote whilst in jail after the Munich Putsch.

Democratic Power

The key change Hitler made during his time in jail, deciding that the Nazis needed to take power democratically - not violently.

May 1924 Election Result

In the May 1924 elections, the Nazis won 32 seats in the Reichstag.

1928 Election Result

In the 1928 elections, the Nazis won 12 seats.

July 1932 Election Result

In July 1932, the Nazis won 230 seats.

November 1932 Election Result

In November 1932, the Nazis won 196 seats.

Hitler Youth and Nazi Students’ League

Local networks of Nazis established by Hitler after winning 32 seats in the May 1924 elections.

The Great Depression

The key event that allowed the Nazis to dramatically increase the number of seats they had in the Reichstag.

Decline of Nazi Vote Share

At the end of 1932, the Nazis' vote share began to decline from 230 seats down to 196 seats.

Communist Party

The other extremist party that gained support during the Great Depression.

Target Groups Post-1928

Post-1928, the Nazis targeted peasant farmers in northern Germany, middle-class shopkeepers, and small business people in rural towns.

Workers' Political Support

Workers did not generally support the Nazis; they mostly supported the Social Democratic Party (SPD) or the Communists.

Rural Population Percentage

Approximately 35% of Germany’s population lived in rural areas.

Contrast Between Cities and Rural Areas

Nazis depicted cities as decadent and immoral, while portraying rural areas as morally pure with ‘true Germans’ (Aryans).

Promises to Rural Peasants

The Nazis promised to help agriculture if they came to power.

SA (Brownshirts) Enlargement

Hitler enlarged the SA in 1925.

Percentage of Unemployed in SA

About 55% of the SA came from the unemployed.

SA Members Background

Many SA members were ex-servicemen who had fought in the war.

SS Establishment

In 1925, Hitler established the SS - his elite, personal bodyguard who were fanatically loyal.

Nazi Propaganda Head

Joseph Goebbels was put in charge of Nazi propaganda.

Goebbels' Belief on Propaganda

Goebbels believed it was more effective to appeal to people’s emotions rather than their reason.

Forms of Nazi Propaganda

The Nazis used posters, leaflets, films, radio broadcasts, and rallies as forms of propaganda.

1928 Electoral Breakthrough

There was no electoral breakthrough in 1928 because Germany was prospering under Stresemann, and few Germans were interested in extreme parties.

Nazi Membership by 1928

By 1928, the Nazis had 100,000 members.

Nazi Party Status by 1929

By 1929, the Nazi Party had relatively little support but was highly organized around Hitler, well-positioned to seize opportunities presented by the Wall St. Crash and Great Depression.

William Shirer on Nazism (1928)

William Shirer remarked that 'Nazism appears to be a dying cause…One scarcely hears of Hitler except as the butt of jokes.'