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The Presidential Campaign, 1932 - Hitler over Germany

Key Points
  • Hitler presented himself as a 'strong man' - would solve the economic crisis.
  • He would head a 'dynamic' party - destroy internal enemies and bring unity.
  • Campaigned in a 'fresh and dynamic' way
  • Presidential campaign - 20 cities in 7 days - he presented as a credible leader
  • Key messages - offering, 'order', discipline' & 'salvation'.
  • Democracy was 'failing' by 1932 more were voting for anti democratic parties (KPD or NSDAP) - Hitler attacked the Weimar political system.
  • by July 1932 they were the biggest party in the Reichstag with 37% of the vote.
In the last days of the 1932 election campaign, amidst a sea of coloured election posters, the Nazis confidently produced a strikingly effective black-and-white election poster. It consisted of an image of Hitler's disembodied head, set in stark contrast to a black background. Below the face, written in white capitals, was just one word - 'HITLER'.
No electioneering slogan was thought necessary on this poster. The juxtaposition of face and name was considered sufficient to put across the necessary message. Hitler's familiarity, in an age when the mass media was only just being recognised as a potent political force, had largely been established by his astonishing election schedule. By taking to the skies in his Deutschlandflug, accompanied by the slogan 'the Führer over Germany', Hitler addressed major rallies in twenty different cities within a period of only six days.
The top picture shows a rally in Berlin with 200,000 in attendance.
The bottom picture shows “more than 100,000” people in Chemnitz.