Reasons for the Growth in Support for the Nazi Party

This section explains the reasons for the growth in support for the Nazi Party during the 1930’s. In 1928, the Nazi Party held only 12 seats in the Reichstag, but by July 1932, they had risen to 230 seats, making them the largest political party in Germany. This dramatic increase in support was due to a combination of factors, including the appeal of Hitler, the effectiveness of Nazi propaganda, the role of the SA, and widespread dissatisfaction with the Weimar Republic.

The Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi Party

The Nazis continued to promote their 25-Point Programme, first introduced in the early 1920s. Unlike the Communists, who primarily attracted support from industrial workers in urban areas, the Nazis appealed to a much wider audience across different social and geographical groups. Their support came from:

• Wealthy businessmen – Many industrialists and business leaders feared the rise of communism, which threatened private property and capitalism. As a result, they began to finance Hitler and the Nazi Party to protect their economic interests.
• The middle class – The economic instability caused by the Great Depression and the perceived failure of democracy led many middle-class voters to support Hitler, believing he could restore order and provide strong leadership.
• Nationalists – Nationalist groups blamed the Treaty of Versailles and the reparations payments for Germany’s economic troubles. The Nazis’ promise to overturn the Treaty and restore national pride attracted many of these voters.
• Rural areas – Nazi support was particularly strong among small business owners, artisans, farmers, and agricultural workers, who saw the party as a defender of traditional values and a solution to economic hardship.

The Effects of Nazi Propaganda

Nazi propaganda, controlled by Joseph Goebbels, was a powerful tool in gaining public support. It focused on three main themes:

• The Führer cult – Hitler was portrayed as Germany’s saviour, a strong leader who would rescue the country from economic depression and political instability.
• Volksgemeinschaft (People’s Community) – The Nazis promoted the idea of a united German society where class and religious differences would be less important, fostering a sense of national unity.
• Scapegoating Jews and other minorities – The Nazis blamed Jews for Germany’s economic problems and social unrest, portraying them as both racially inferior and an economic threat. Other groups, such as communists and socialists, were also targeted as enemies of the state.

Goebbels' propaganda campaign was highly effective, using speeches, posters, films, and rallies to target specific groups of society with tailored messages, slogans, and policies designed to win their support.

The Role of the SA (Sturmabteilung)

The SA, also known as the Brownshirts, played a significant role in increasing the Nazis’ popularity. They acted as both a paramilitary force and a propaganda tool. The SA contributed to the party’s success by:

• Intimidating political opponents – The SA disrupted meetings of rival political parties, particularly the Communists, and used violence to suppress opposition.
• Providing opportunities for unemployed young men – The economic depression left many young men without jobs, and the SA offered them a sense of purpose, belonging, and employment.
• Protecting Nazi meetings and rallies – The SA acted as bodyguards for Hitler and other Nazi leaders, ensuring that they could hold speeches and events without disruption.

Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles

The Nazis consistently opposed the Treaty of Versailles, calling it a Diktat (dictated peace) that had been unjustly forced upon Germany by the victorious Allies. They also blamed the Weimar government for accepting the Treaty’s harsh conditions. Hitler’s promises regarding the Treaty included:

• Rebuilding Germany’s military strength – Hitler pledged to ignore the restrictions on Germany’s armed forces and rebuild the army, navy, and air force.
• Rejecting reparations payments – The Nazis promised to stop paying reparations, arguing that they were unfair and crippling Germany’s economy.
• Restoring Germany’s status as a world power – Hitler vowed to regain lost territories and restore Germany’s international influence and prestige.

The Nazis’ rise to power was driven by a combination of economic hardship, political instability, and skilful propaganda. The party’s broad appeal across different social groups, their strong anti-Weimar and anti-Treaty of Versailles rhetoric, and their use of violence and intimidation through the SA all contributed to their growing success. By 1932, with millions of Germans looking for a solution to their country’s problems, Hitler and the Nazi Party had positioned themselves as the only viable alternative to the failing Weimar government.