Reasons for the success of the Nazi party

Who voted for the Nazis in July 1932 and what are the reasons?

Contrary to outstanding belief Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were not democratically voted into parliament. It was their strength and wide appeal, which because of the defenselessness of the Weimar Republic led to its downfall

There was the main change in the performance of several parties in the Reichstag election. The Nazis earned support at the expenditure of the National Party, the Peoples Party, and the Democrats. What looks like to have occurred is that a large number of middle-class voters were so disillusioned as a result of the Depression that they vacated their usual voting manners and switched to the Nazis. Ththinkingng class also verified some support for Hitler, though most remained devoted to their traditional party, the Social Democrats voted more radically for the Communists.

The German working class was distributed into what it thought of Hitler. Some always favored the Nazis, who had, started as the German Workers Party. Others were persuaded as a result of the Depression and unemployment, possibly motivated by catchphrases like Freedom, Work, Bread, Fair Days Work for Fair Days Pair. Nonetheless, most trade union members doubted the Nazis and stayed loyal to the Social Democrats. Some of the more revolutionary workers switched to the Communists in appreciation of the Nazis.

The German middle class comprised of professional people, including civil servants lawyers teachers, small shopkeepers, and farmers. Usually, members of the middle class were reasonable and supported the Democrats and the People s Party. In 1929, however, they were badly affected by Sorrow. Many went over to the Nazis, assured that only them knew how to cure Germany's economic difficulties, and were enticed by Hitler s attacks on communism. Also, despite the sadness, many of the middle classes declined on the principle to vote for Hitler, hating his ideas and strategies. They were motivated with sayings like No more cuts in salaries Fair prices and Restrict food imports the great industrialists felt that the Nazis were the reasonable assurance against a Communist revolution that they worried might come about as an outcome of the Depression. The Nazis were the only party inferred to tackle this. From 1929 onwards, they donated to the funds of the Nazi Party. All the same, they inclined to see the Nazis as rather vicious and they wanted the more traditional National Party. The crisis was that this seemed to be growing weaker.

Most ardent nationalists financed Hitler since he proposed the most severe methods of destroying the treaty of Versailles. Some were put off by his views on race which they felt were not an important part of German s interests. With the watchwords such as Away with the feeble Weimar democracy, Smash the Chains of Versailles, and the most important promise to Make Germany Great.

Young people were oftentimes in a difficult position. Their parents impacted some of them; while others might dispute with them. At school their different loyalties would often clash, there was a big Pro-Nazi movement in schools towards the end of the 1920s. What most enticed some young people to the movement were the parades, banners, and feeling of power. But there must also have been a substantial amount of bullying and coercion.

Cautious minded women rather than men approved the right-wing parties in Germany more heavily. At first, this did not apply to the Nazis though, who had strict beliefs about the traditional role of women as mothers and housewives. Any woman who planned to make a career for herself would find that the Nazis acting very much against her curiosities. Slowly, Nazi publicity began to win female support with catchwords such as Women! Millions of men out of work. Millions of children without a future. Save our families. Vote for Adolf Hitler!

Despite growing support, Hitler was still not strong enough to win power promptly. He did not have a plurality in the Reichstag and he failed to beat Hindenburg in the 1932 presidential election. In normal times Germany s democracy might have been strong enough to keep Hitler out of a position of power.

The Depression, however, helped him weaken this democracy. The Republic was regulated by federations because of the nature of the voting system. The economic crisis caused the union under Muller to fall apart in 1930, as the numerous members could not agree on what policies to introduce.

The next three Chancellors Bruning, Papen, and Schleicher relied on the President s strength, by article 48 of the constitution, to rule by decree without the support of the Reichstag. This undemocratic atmosphere was able to come to power through the back door. In January 1933 Papen wanted to bring down his opponent, Schleicher. He urged the President to appoint Hitler Chancellor, with Papen as vice-chancellor. He even argued that power would lessen Hitler s policies. Time was to show how wrong Papen was.