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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.
This election set the tone for all further elections and referendums held in the Nazi era. Official results showed 92 percent of the voters approved the Nazi list, on a turnout of 96 percent. The vote was held in far-from secret circumstances; many voters feared that anyone who voted "no" would be detected and punished for doing so.
Parliamentary elections were held in the Free City of Danzig on 28 May 1933. The Nazi Party emerged as the largest party, receiving 50% of the vote and winning 38 of the 72 seats in the Volkstag, the first time any party had won a majority of seats in the legislature. [1] Voter turnout was 92%. [2]
The federal election in March 1933 was the last all-German election prior to World War II that was competitive. From then on, while elections were still held, voters were presented with a single list comprising Nazis and "guests" of the party. These "guests", however, fully supported Hitler in any event.
5 March – German federal election, March 1933: National Socialists gain 43.9% of the votes. 8 March – Nazis occupy the Bavarian State Parliament and expel deputies. 12 March – Hindenburg bans the flag of the republic and orders the Imperial and Nazi flag to fly side by side.
Since German elections always took place on Sundays, the vote was held one day after the anniversary. Of the democratic nature of the referendum, the political scientist Arnold Zurcher writes that "there undoubtedly was a great deal" of "intangible official pressure" but probably very little "downright coercion and intimidation at the polls". [17]
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since the Nazi era, dealing a crushing blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government with ...
Despite government propaganda, the German people would increasingly recognize this failure and turn away from the responsible organizations and the Weimar Constitution. This became evident with the Reichstag election in March 1933, when the previously "terribly suppressed" National Socialists obtained a clear majority of 43.9%. Thus, the German ...