The Nazis gained widespread support from Germans of all social classes and backgrounds leading up to 1933, attracting over 700,000 members by January 1933 compared to 130,000 in 1930. While workers made up the largest segment of society, middle class "white collar" professions like self-employed individuals and civil servants were overrepresented in the Nazi party. Younger people and residents of predominantly Protestant areas also supported the Nazis at higher rates. Through targeted propaganda focusing on anti-Communism, economic prosperity, and family values, the Nazis appealed to various demographic groups to build a broad base of support leading to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933.

1. Nature of support for
the Nazis

2. Adolf Hitler became German
Chancellor in January 1933,
and in March 1933 the Nazis
won almost 44% of the
national vote.
This meant that the Nazis were
supported by a wide range of
Germans, from all social
classes and backgrounds, for
various reasons.

3. Membership of the Nazi Party
gives an indication of where
they attracted support. By
January 1933 they had
719,446 members, compared
to only 129,563 in 1930.
Their membership featured all
social classes, but with more
people drawn from the middle
class, known as the petty
bourgeoisie.

4. This table shows Nazi Party
membership in 1933,
compared to German society
as a whole.
Ordinary workers were the
largest group, as they are
the biggest group in German
society. However middle
class groups (marked *)
were more likely to be
members.
Group % of Nazi
Party
% of German
society
Workers 32.5 46.3
White-collar
workers *
20.6 12.4
Self-
employed *
17.3 9.6
Peasants 12.5 20.7
Others * 10.7 6.2
Civil
servants *
6.5 4.8

5. This tendency for the middle
class to be strong supporters of
the Nazis reflected a fear of
Communism (the main reason
people joined the Nazis).
The Nazis needed policies that
would attract mass support,
however they did not want to
alienate the groups that had
money or important social jobs.

6. In terms of religion, Nazi Party
members were more likely to
be Protestant.
Nazi membership was higher in
areas which had a large
percentage of Protestants.
Equally average Nazi
membership rates were lower
in areas that were
predominantly Catholic.
Predominantly Protestant areas
% of German population
living in these areas
% of Nazi members
living in these areas
57% 65%
Predominantly Catholic areas
% of German population
living in these areas
% of Nazi members
living in these areas
25% 15%

7. Some local German elections
used different coloured ballot
papers for men and women.
These papers show that, in
general, women were slightly
more likely than men to vote
for the Nazis. This may be due
to the groups for women the
Nazis had, or their action in
local communities.
January 1933
Area Male Female
Bremen 30.8 34.4
Bavaria 36.2 34.4
Ansbach 51.2 55.6
Magdeburg 38.1 43.3
Wiesbaden 44.9 47.3

8. Younger people were also
more likely to be Nazi Party
members than older people.
This may be related to the
various youth groups that the
Nazis had, and higher
unemployment levels they had.
The SPD on the other hand had
similar membership rates
across all age groups.
1931
Age group % German
adult
population
% of Nazi
Party
membership
18-30 31 61
31-40 22 22
41-50 17 8
51+ 30 8

9. The Nazis also used
propaganda to target different
messages to the various groups
in Germany.
Mothers were targeted with
claims that only Hitler could
offer protection to Germany –
and so their families. Fears of
sexual exploitation of girls
were put forward too.

10. Workers were promised
employment and a bright
future under the Nazis; Work
and Bread was a common Nazi
slogan.
Middle class groups were
given messages focusing on
anti-Communism, as well as
committing to low taxes and
economic prosperity.

11. Historians disagree on the exact
nature of Nazi backing.
Some say that the Nazis
manipulated Germans through
propaganda, but others argue the
Nazis simply played into German
people’s existing opinions.
Others say that the Nazis simply
had the most desirable policies
– especially economic.

12. Historians’ views
• William Brustein: Xenophobia alone would not have brought
the Nazis to power, the Depression was hugely important.
• Daniel Goldhagen: anti-Communist arguments were more
important to winning German votes than anti-Semitic views.
• Tim Kirk: The Nazis represented all social groups in Germany
but were mostly supported by the middle classes.
• Conan Fischer: The KPD and SPD received half of working
class votes, but were divided due to their refusal to cooperate.