This page charts the varying success that the Nazis had in different German eelctions, before they eventually secure power in 1933.

1. Rise of the Nazis:
performance in
Reichstag and
presidential elections

2. The extent of the Nazis’
electoral success is shown in
Hitler eventually becoming
Chancellor in 1933.
Until then the Nazis had seen
mixed electoral success,
showing strengths in the mid-
1920s, followed by decline,
and then eventual triumph,
achieving power in Germany.

3. Reichstag elections
In May 1924, the Nazis gained
6.5% of the national vote
(32/472 deputies in the
Reichstag) when Hitler was still
in prison.
By December 1924 – after
Hitler’s release from prison –
they saw their share of the vote
fall to 3% (14/493 deputies).

4. The Nazi decline continued four
years later in May 1928 when
their vote again fell, to 2.6%
(12/491 deputies).
By 1930 the financial crisis had
hit. Bruning’s decision to call
early elections in September
1930 led to a huge Nazi upsurge.
They received 18.3% of the vote
(102/577 deputies).

5. Elections in July 1932 saw
another big increase for the Nazis
(after Hitler had been a
presidential candidate). The
Nazis gained 37.3% of the vote
(230/608 deputies).
By November 1932 their vote
had declined to 33.1% (196/584
deputies), but they were still the
Reichstag’s dominant party.

6. The Nazis’ November 1932
success was enough to secure
the Chancellorship in January
1933. However Hitler wanted
complete power and called
elections for March 1933.
March’s elections were the high
point of Nazi election success;
they gained 43.9% of the vote
(288/647 deputies).

7. The Nazis' electoral success can
be tracked against Germany’s
economic performance.
During times of economic
strife, Hitler’s simple message
and solutions gained public
interest, which declined as the
economy improved. Equally
when the economy again fell,
voters looked to the Nazis.

8. Presidential elections
The March and April (run-off)
1925 presidential elections
had seen the triumph of Paul
von Hindenburg.
Hindenburg had been helped
by the left’s splits. The
Communist decision to not
back centrist Wilhelm Marx
helped Hindenburg win.

9. President Hindenburg was 84
years old by March 1932. He
did not want to stand for re-
election but was opposed to
seeing Hitler win.
Chancellor Bruning had tried to
secure a deal to keep
Hindenburg as President
without an election, but could
not get enough support.

10. In the March 1932 election, no
candidate received 50%+, so
Deusterberg dropped out.
Candidate Party %
Paul von
Hindenburg
Independent 49.6
Adolf Hitler Nazi Party 30.1
Ernst Thalmann KDP 13.2
Theodor
Deusterberg
Stahlhelm 6.8

11. In the April 1932 run-off
election, Hindenburg emerged
as the winner. However the
election had helped Hitler build
a major national profile.
Candidate Party %
Paul von
Hindenburg
Independent 53
Adolf Hitler Nazi Party 36.8
Ernst Thalmann KDP 10.2

12. The 1932 presidential election
had a mixed impact on Hitler.
He was disappointed not to
receive more votes.
However he did increase his
support in the run-off elections.
Also his public profile acted as a
springboard for greater Nazi
success in the 1932 Reichstag
elections.

13. Historians’ views
• Detlef Muhlberger (2003): The middle classes “responded
strongly” to the Nazis but “there was also a surprisingly high
level of support from the working class.”
• Tim Kirk (2007): By the time it reached its peak of electoral
success in July 1932, the NSDAP represented a greater range of
social and economic groups than any of its competitors,
although the middle classes were the main group.
• Peter Fritzsche (2008): The Great Depression “speeded up
the Nazis gains after 1929” but was not only relevant factor.