The March 1933 Election
Use the information below to practice writing 15 mark questions for Paper 42
Write an account of the March election 1933 in Germany [15]
Technique - Write THREE paragraphs: Context, events and outcomes
📅 When?
⚙️ Background / Context
📊 Election Campaign
🎯 Nazi Tactics
🚨 Use of Emergency Powers
📈 Results of the Election
📌 Key Points:
- Date: 5 March 1933
- It was the last democratic election held in Germany before Hitler’s dictatorship was fully established.
⚙️ Background / Context
- Hitler had just become Chancellor (30 January 1933).
- He wanted to increase Nazi seats in the Reichstag to pass laws without resistance.
- The Reichstag Fire (27 February 1933) had just occurred, which Hitler blamed on the Communists.
- This led to the Reichstag Fire Decree (28 February), suspending civil rights and enabling mass arrests.
📊 Election Campaign
🎯 Nazi Tactics
- Violence and intimidation by the SA (Nazi paramilitary).
- Used the state police to arrest 4,000+ Communists.
- Ran a massive propaganda campaign.
- Radio, posters, rallies, and Hitler’s speeches pushed fear of communism and promised national unity.
🚨 Use of Emergency Powers
- The Reichstag Fire Decree allowed:
- Censorship of anti-Nazi press.
- Banning of Communist meetings.
- Arbitrary arrest of opponents.
📈 Results of the Election
- Nazis (NSDAP)288~44%
- Social Democrats120~18%
- Centre Party73~11%
- Communists (KPD)81 (banned from sitting)~12%
📌 Key Points:
- Nazis didn’t win a majority.
- Needed 2/3 majority to change the constitution (e.g., pass the Enabling Act).
- Formed a coalition with the Nationalist Party (DNVP) to reach enough seats.
- Communist Party (KPD) was effectively banned — their seats were not counted.
