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Hitler ruled Germany autocratically by asserting the Führerprinzip (leader principle), which called for absolute obedience of all subordinates. He viewed the government structure as a pyramid, with himself at the apex. Rank in the party was not determined by elections; positions were filled through appointment by those of higher rank. [7]
At a secret meeting on 20 February, major German industrialists had agreed to finance the Nazis' election campaign. [9] [10] The main residual opposition was the Social Democrats. On election day Germans voted in an atmosphere of extreme voter intimidation, perpetrated mainly by the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA) militia.
Many voters decided the Nazi Party was capable of restoring order, quelling civil unrest, and improving Germany's international reputation. After the federal election of 1932 , the party was the largest in the Reichstag , holding 230 seats with 37.4 per cent of the popular vote.
Germany's Weimar political system made it difficult for chancellors to govern with a stable parliamentary majority, and successive chancellors instead relied on the president's emergency powers to govern. [67] In 1931 the Nazi Party altered its strategy to engage in perpetual campaigning across the country, even outside of election time. [53]
Federal elections were held in Germany on 5 March 1933, after the Nazi seizure of power on 30 January and just six days after the Reichstag fire.The election saw Nazi stormtroopers unleash a widespread campaign of violence against the Communist Party (KPD), left-wingers, [1]: 317 trade unionists, the Social Democratic Party [1] and the Centre Party.
When the West Germany was formed on 23 May 1949, eleven länder were formally recognized as component entities in the new Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and they retained their state parliaments. [11] When East Germany was established on 7 October 1949, five länder were components of the new nation.
A new election was scheduled for November 1932. [3] Gregor Strasser attempted to form a coalition between the Nazis and Centre. The Nazis did not obstruct parliamentary procedure and in return the Centre voted to make Hermann Göring president of the Reichstag. Strasser opposed calling for a new election, fearing that support for the Nazis ...
While greater German social and economic unity was produced through the regime's Gleichschaltung initiatives, it was at the expense of individuality and to the social detriment of any nonconformist; [65] worse, it contributed to and reinforced the social and racial exclusion of anyone National Socialist doctrine deemed an enemy. [66]