The elections that were held in Weimar Germany from 1928 to 1932 were invariably held against the shadow of the economic depression that haunted Europe. With rising unemployment and no obvious sign that Weimar was going to get out of the downward spiral, Hitler sold to the German people his simple idea: you have given the politicians of Weimar a chance since the end of World War One and they have failed – give me just one chance. The elections of 1928, 1930, and the two held in 1932 showed that the people of Weimar Germany were willing to do so – but not in the overwhelming numbers that Hitler might have anticipated.

 

Election of 20^th May 1928:

 

Nazis (NSDAP): 12 seats and 2.6% of the vote.

 

German National Party: 73 seats and 14.2% of the vote.

 

German People’s Party: 45 seats and 8.7% of the vote.

 

Catholic Centre/BVP: 78 seats and 15.1% of the vote.

 

German Democratic Party: 25 seats and 3.8% of the vote.

 

Social Democrats: 153 seats and 29.8% of the vote.

 

Communist Party: 54 seats and 10.6% of the vote.

 

Others: 51 seats and 14% of the vote.

 

Total number of Reichstag deputies = 491

 

Total votes cast: 30.0 million (75.6% of those entitled to vote)

 

Election of 14^th September 1930:

 

Nazis (NSDAP): 107 seats and 18.3% of the votes.

 

German National Party: 41 seats and 7% of the vote.

 

German People’s Party: 30 seats and 4.5% of the vote.

 

Catholic Centre/BVP: 87 seats and 14.8% of the vote.

 

German Democratic Party: 20 seats and 3.6% of the vote.

 

Social Democrats: 143 seats and 24.5% of the vote.

 

Communist Party: 77 seats and 13.1% of the vote.

 

Others: 72 seats and 14% of the vote.

 

Total number of Reichstag deputies = 577

 

Total votes cast = 35 million (82% of those entitled to vote)

 

Election of 31^st July 1932

 

Nazis (NSDAP): 230 seats and 37.3% of the vote.

 

German National Party: 37 seats and 5.9% of the vote.

 

German People’s Party: 7 seats and 1.2% of the vote.

 

Catholic Centre/BVP: 98 seats and 15.9% of the vote.

 

German Democratic Party: 4 seats and 1% of the vote.

 

Social Democrats: 133 seats and 21.6% of the vote.

 

Communist Party: 89 seats and 14.6% of the vote.

 

Others: 11 seats and 3% of the vote.

 

Total number of Reichstag deputies = 608

 

Total votes cast = 36.9 million (84% of those entitled to vote)

 

Election 6^th November 1932

 

Nazis (NSDAP): 196 seats and 33.1% of the vote.

 

German National Party: 52 seats and 8.8% of the vote.

 

German People’s Party: 11 seats and 1.9% of the vote.

 

Catholic Centre/BVP: 90 seats and 15% of the vote.

 

German Democratic Party: 2 seats and 1% of the vote.

 

Social Democrats: 121 seats and 10.4% of the vote.

 

Communist Party: 100 seats and 16.9% of the vote.

 

Others: 14 seats and 3.2% of the vote.

 

Total number of Reichstag deputies = 584

 

Total votes cast = 35.5 million (80.6% of those entitled to vote)

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