Since 1929, Germany had been suffering from the Great Depression; unemployment had risen from 8.5% to nearly 30% between 1929 and 1932,[2] while industrial production dropped by around 42%. What were the results of the presidential election of 1932? A couple look over the campaign signs that have taken over a street post, including a small swastika up in the corner. President Hindenburg stood for election in 1932 against a backdrop of economic crisis and rising political tensions. Joseph Goebbels addresses a massive crowd that has come out to support the Nazi Party. March 1932: Hindenburg, 18 million votes (49.6%); Hitler, 11 million votes (30%); Thlmann, 5 million votes (14%). These figures do not, of course, have anything directly to do with campaign finances, but merely suggest the financial strength of one of the largest trade union federations in Germany, which in 1932 actively supported the Social Democratic party and the cause of Hindenburg. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Led by Hitler, who exercised sole control over its policy and direction, its ideology combined extreme hostility towards the Weimar Republic with fervent antisemitism and German nationalism. Hitler received around a third of the vote and was defeated in the second round in April by Hindenburg, who won a narrow majority. Summary Licensing I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. April 1932: Hindenburg, 19 million votes (53%); Hitler, 13 million votes (36%); Thlmann, 4 million votes (11%). Last chance to attend a Grade Booster cinema workshop before the exams. Hindenburg had been elected to the office in 1925 with the support of a coalition of several parties on the right who hoped that he would overturn the Weimar Republic, which was never particularly popular. WebRM DAT1RE Hitler, Adolf, 20.4.1889 - 30.4.1945, German politician (NSDAP), with a young girl, election campaign, 1932, RM R8J321 President Paul von Hindenburg and Adolf Hitler on January 30th, 1933, when the latter was appointed chancellor in a brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions, and He then made a common cause with Hitler, persuading President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler chancellor and himself vice-chancellor. Nationally, German politics of the 1920s was characterised by a succession of multi-party governments bringing together social democrats or SDPs with parties of the centre and centre right. Independent incumbent Paul von Hindenburg won a second seven-year term against WebRM HP9DJW women to vote,Reichstag election,National Socialist Germany in 1932 RM 2G0PBGR A vintage Nazi election poster from 1932 saying Work and Bread through National Socialism RM BA5PXX Wahlt Sozialdemokraten 1932 poster to vote Social Democrat The People Are Dying Under This System of Nazi government While it's easy to forget or misunderstand this, during the 1932 federal elections, nearly 14 million Germans voted for Hitler, the Nazis, and fascism. Brning recognized that only a general support from the right would induce Hindenburg to announce his readiness for candidacy. 21 A political classification of German newspapers in 1930 gives the following results: German Nationalists, 373 (Hugenburg); Central party, 308; Bavarian People's party, 126; Social Democratic party, 149; National Socialists (1931), 44; German People's party, 42; Economic party, 26; Democratic party, 72. Request Permissions, Published By: American Political Science Association. publications and programs, please see the APSA website. Independent candidate Crown Prince Wilhelm von Hohenzollern won against Social Democrat Otto Braun. It is not necessary for the president of Germany to be a native-born citizen. People's life savings were so worthless that they burned them as kindling. The Social Democratic leaders Ernst Heilmann and Otto Braun (himself a candidate in the 1925 election) despite the initial resistance of the party's left wing, were able to launch a broad electoral campaign and received the support of the Iron Front alliance, including the democratic Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold association, the Free Trade Unions (ADGB, AfA-Bund) and the Arbeiter-Turn- und Sportbund organization. 1932 German presidential election by District (1st round) - Simple.svg, 1932 German presidential election by District (1st round).svg, 1932 German presidential election by District (2nd round) - Simple.svg, 1932 German presidential election by District (2nd round).svg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12940, Ernst Thlmann.jpg, Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-P046284, Berlin, Reichsprsidentenwahl, Werbung "Stahlhelm".jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-03161A, Berlin, Propaganda zur Reichsprsidentenwahl.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13203A, Berlin, Reichsprsidentenwahl, Wahlwerbung.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13229, Heinrich Brning.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13236, Berlin, Reichsprsidentenwahl, Werbeauto.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1972-033-19, Reichsprsidentenwahl.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13174, Berlin, Wahlplakat am Columbiahaus.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13221, Berlin, Brandenburger Tor, Wahlplakat.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13237, Berlin, Reichsprsidentenwahl, Werbeauto.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13239, Heinrich Brning.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13240, Otto Meiner.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13241, Berlin, Kranker auf dem Weg zur Wahl.jpg, Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0723-502, 1. Moreover, Hitler won more seats in 1932 (in either election) than any prior party had. Hindenburg Indeed, it would have been very hard to win a one-party majority in the Weimar Republic - no parties did so. Hindenburg, a monarchist and conservative, was personally offended by Hitler's gaining of most of righting votes. Clever Lili is here to help you ace your exams. Party representatives stand outside a polling station during the federal election, holding their placards high. The second regular presidential election held in Germany since the adoption of the present constitution was completed on April 10, following the failure of each of the five candidates to poll a majority of the popular votes at the first election on March 13. LS23 6AD This page was last modified on 11 November 2015, at 00:18. On August 19, 1934, Adolf Hitler, already chancellor, is also elected president of Germany in an unprecedented consolidation of power in the short history of the republic. Mrz, 1932, report published by the minister of the Department of the Interior. Why was the presidential election of 1932 in Weimar Germany important? Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. By the 1930s, the skilled propaganda campaigns of the Nazi Party had transformed Adolf Hitler from a little known extremist to a leading candidate for President. Backed by the Communist International, it was hoped that he would gain support from left-wing Social Democrats disgusted by Hindenburg's character. His major opponent in the election was Adolf Hitler of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Hitler's results were a great disappointment to him, nevertheless the Nazi Party recorded further gains compared with the 1930 Reichstag election. Talk Elections General Politics Individual Politics (Moderator: The Dowager Mod) 1932 German Presidential Election-First Round previous next Pages: [ 1] Author Topic: 1932 German Presidential Election-First Round (Read 1870 times) Pages: [ 1] previous next Jump to: Intimidation, and fear of the communists, brought Hitler a 90 percent majority. The federal election and Hitler's shot at becoming chancellor was just around the corner. discipline. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Current one is: August 19. He therefore arranged the formation of a "Hindenburg committee" chaired by the Berlin mayor Heinrich Sahm, publishing a declaration of support to Hindenburg as the candidate of national unity and German Volksgemeinschaft. A plebiscite vote was held on August 19. Indeed, leftist splinter parties such as the Socialist Workers' Party of Germany and the Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund organization declared their support, as did intellectuals like Carl von Ossietzky. As Hindenburgs current chancellor could no longer gain a majority in the Reichstag, and Hitler could bring together a larger swath of the masses and a unified right/conservative/nationalist coalition, the president gave in. Only three days after his appointment, he was faced with such opposition that he had Hindenburg dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections for 31 July so that the Reichstag could not dismiss him immediately.[3]. Jahrbuch der Deutschen Sozialdemocratie (1930), p. 303Google Scholar. He wanted the chancellorship for himself. The election campaign took place under violent circumstances, as Papen lifted the token ban on the SA, the Nazi paramilitary, which Brning had put in place during the last days of his administration. All of these companies are now members of a central organization really under the control of the Post Office Department, which holds 51 per cent of the stock of the central organization, which in turn controls 55.1 per cent of the capital of the member companies. hasContentIssue false, Copyright American Political Science Association 1932, Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. [2] In March 1930, the governing grand coalition of the pro-republican partiesthe Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Centre Party and both liberal partiescollapsed. All Rights Reserved. The Nazis were angrier and more militant than any other party out there and as life got harder, that started to appeal to the Germans. The first round was in March, but as no candidate won 50% of the vote there was a second round in April. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, Elecciones presidenciales de Alemania de 1932; 1932; eleiciones presidenciales d'Alemaa de 1932; eleccions presidencials alemanyes de 1932; Reichsprsidentenwahl 1932; 1932.; 1932; prsidentvalget i Tyskland 1932; 1932 Almanya cumhurbakanl seimleri; 1932; Presidentvalet i Tyskland 1932; 1932; 1932; 1932; 1932 ; elezioni presidenziali tedesche del 1932; lection prsidentielle allemande de 1932; 1932; 1932; Eleio presidencial na Alemanha em 1932; 1932.; Saksan presidentinvaalit 1932; ; 1932; Pemilihan umum Presiden Jerman 1932; Wybory prezydenckie w Niemczech w 1932 roku; 1932 ; 1932; Duitse presidentsverkiezing 1932; 1932; 1932; Predsedniki izbori u Nemakoj 1932.; 1932 German presidential election; 1932; 1932; Presidentvalget i Tyskland 1932; Election in Germany between Paul von Hindenburg and Adolf Hitler. Published online by Cambridge University Press: Chancellor Heinrich Brning steps out of the polling station after casting his vote against Hitler. 1932 American Political Science Association In 1932, German President Paul von Hindenburg, old, tired, and a bit senile, had won re-election as president but had lost a considerable portion of his right/conservative support to the Nazi Party. How Hitler And The Nazi Party Convinced Germany To Vote For Fascism, Mark Oliver is a writer, teacher, and father whose work has appeared on The Onion's StarWipe, Yahoo, and Cracked, and can be found on his, "The Most Bizarre Dinosaur Ever Found" Just Solved A Huge Evolutionary Mystery, Why An Australian Senator Wore A Burqa To Parliament (VIDEO), What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Vllcischer Beobachter, April 5, 1932, p. 2Google Scholar. On the far-right, the Harzburg Front collapsed, when the DNVP nominated the Stahlhelm leader Theodor Duesterberg as its own candidate. The Nazis put Hitler on the ballot paper to Hindenburg died of lung cancer on August 2, 1934. Boston House, Hindenburg remained the only independent politician elected president of Germany until the election of Joachim Gauck nearly 80 years later. Adolf Hitler and Nazi Party representatives pose together for a photograph while planning their election campaign. West Yorkshire, Although Hindenburg was re-elected, Hitler saw his vote share increase by 6%, proving that the Nazi party was growing its support quickly. Citizens and workers must become Germans; 2. The results of the two rounds were: March 1932: Hindenburg, 18 million votes (49.6%); Hitler, 11 million votes (30%); Thlmann, 5 million votes (14%). The massive crowd of supporters that came out to see the Nazi Party leaders speak, seen from above. What questions does this photo raise for you? Under the electoral law, a candidate who received an absolute majority of votes (i.e. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. APSR, In the first round on March 13 no candidate obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast, though Hindenburg with 49.6% failed only by a narrow margin. Citizens and workers must become Germans; 2. This election was important, first, because the Weimar constitutional system was threatened, and secondly, because the threatening force, Hitlerism, if victorious, not only presaged a profound change in the existing form of government in Germany, but might have been the prelude to internal strife, affecting the financial stake of the world in Germany, and possibly endangering international peace. But Hitler was not appeased. The writer Gerhart Hauptmann, painter Max Liebermann, Artur Mahraun, leader of the Young German Order, the industrialist Carl Duisberg, as well as the former ministers Otto Gessler and Gustav Noske were among the signatories of the appeal, which convinced Hindenburg to run. In the first round of voting Hindenburg achieved 49.6% of the votes - just short of the required 50% to be determined the winner (Hitler won 30%). Communist Party (KPD) leader Ernst Thlmann also ran and received more than five percent of the vote in the runoff. By the 1930s, the skilled propaganda campaigns of the Nazi Party had transformed Adolf Hitler from a little known extremist to a leading candidate for President. For a complete list, see Handbuch der Weltpresse (Carl Duncker, 1931)Google Scholar. Boston Spa, Papen called an election in November after a vote of no confidence. 8 Organisationsbudh des Reichs-Landbundes (1930), p. 10Google Scholar. A truck drives by, covered in propaganda calling on the people to keep Paul von Hindenburg as President of Germany and keep the fascists out. VAT reg no 816865400. In 1932, German President Paul von Hindenburg, old, tired, and a bit senile, had won re-election as president but had lost a considerable portion of his Under this political climate, Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Hostname: page-component-75b8448494-wwvn9 This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. Gesetz ber die Wahl des Reichsprsidenten, March 6, 1924, par. Under the Weimar Republic, which had arisen from Germany's defeat in World War I, the presidency was a powerful office. [2] However, at the end of May 1932, Hindenburg was persuaded to dismiss Brning as chancellor and replaced him with Franz von Papen, a renegade from the Centre Party, and a non-partisan "Cabinet of Barons". Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues. But that was not enough for Hitler either. Some on the left were still lukewarm towards Hindenburg; the Communists exploited this by running Thlmann and promoting him as "the only left candidate". research in colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, one-fourth work All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. DNVP and Stahlhelm abstained from making any recommendations, while the Agricultural League and the industrialist Fritz Thyssen declared themselves in favour of Hitler.