1.3 - march elections and potsdam

how much of the vote did the nazis have in the march elections?

44%

whilst this was an impressive rise…

it still wasn’t the majority they needed

who were the nazis most popular with?

new voters as they failed to make converts from other parties

the KPD did loose support but…

it was less than expected

why was this irrelevant?

because all elected members of the KPD were arrested before the new reichstag ever met

what could hitler now do due to his strengthened position?

form a coalition with the DNVP

why would this be useful to hitler?

it would make him independent of emergency presidential decrees

what did he decide to do instead?

suspend the reichstag

in order to suspend the reichstag, he needed …

2/3 reichstag majority and would have to win the support of the centre-right parties

how did hitler attempt to win the support of more moderate and traditional groups?

with potsdam

when was postadam?

march 21st

what happened?

hitler and hindenburg met at potsdam for a military memorial and shook hands

this was a planned propaganda stunt designed to make hitler look…

more respectful

did it win him the support he needed?

yes as the centre and right wing groups would then vote in favour of the enabling act