The Nazis suffered a setback at the elections of March 1933, achieving only 43.9% of votes, which although was an improvement from the previous election, it was still a long way off from a definitive majority. This can be attributed to the street violence of the SA, which had turned off many voters. However by the end of 1933 (after the Enabling Act was passed and all other political parties banned) the plebiscite on Nazi administration and foreign policy received a 90% vote of approval. In the elections that were held simultaneously the NSDAP finally achieved a majority. 87.8% of the people who turned out to the ballot boxes voted for the only party on the ballot paper. This indicated that the propaganda had been effective and consequently support for the Nazi party had increased.
If the Nazis were to have any hope of continuing their regime they needed to make sure that they had the support of the Reichswehr. The army warned Hitler that this would not happen until the SA and its leader Rohm were stripped of their power. The SA was now two million strong and Rohm had intentions of taking over the army. Hitler himself knew that the unorganised and untrained SA were only effective for parading and bashing up politicians and could not be used against a well trained foreign army. On 30 June 1934 Hitler began a purge that saw the end of Rohm, von Schleicher, Kurt von Bredow and the leadership of the SA. This act was applauded by the army and also by Hindenburg who sent telegrams congratulating Hitler. The industrialists were also happy with this development, as they had been fearful of Rohm who wanted nationalisation of industries. Now at last with the support of the most influential groups in Germany, Hitler was practically free to do anything he wished.
During the period of 1933-36, Hitler?s domestic and foreign policy successes contributed greatly to increasing support for the Nazi regime. In the eyes of almost all Germans, Hitler?s complete disregard for the hated Treaty of Versailles was a greatly estimable virtue. After withdrawing from the League of Nations (which was regarded as the victor?s league), he introduced general conscription and German troops were sent to remilitarise the Rhineland. Both were clear breaches of the Peace Treaty and the Locarno Pact and both were extraordinarily successful. The German people were delighted at the reaction, or more accurately, the lack of any reaction from the British and French. Although they were afraid of another war, by now the public had placed its pride, trust and support in their F?hrer.
The NSDAP?s administration of domestic affairs was also a great source of pride for the German people. Inheriting the burden of six million unemployed Germans he had reduced the number to less than two million by the end of 1936. The regime had also managed to end depression without progressing into inflation. Hitler?s expansionary policies of put getting people back to work as a priority rather than balancing the budget was a politically safe option, which brought confidence to a people who had been overcome by helplessness.
The media spewed forth a continuous stream of propaganda celebrating the genius of Hitler who liberated the German people from the depression, the French, the Versailles peace treaty, the Bolsheviks and the Jews. The vast majority of Germans did not have access to any other news source and were completely under the influence of this propaganda. Numerous spectacular rallies and pageants were held to show to the citizens the power and influence of Germany and to provide a sense of security in the belief that Germany was doing well at last under the Nazis. The Reich propaganda leader for the NSDAP, Joseph Goebbels, began constructing the ?F?hrer myth?, an image of Hitler to which the German people would give their allegiance to even if they were dissatisfied with aspects of the regime itself. In the beginning Hitler was portrayed as the modest tireless worker who sacrificed himself for the German people; as the friend, the caring older brother, a man with simple tastes who shared the prejudices of the common German. Later he became the miracle worker, the saviour who saved Germany from destruction, the political genius who stood up against the rest of the world for the sake of Germany, a man with extraordinary gifts. The foreign policy successes and domestic successes of the regime were exaggerated and made out to be the product of Hitler?s single-handed efforts. Appointed Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and given far reaching powers after 13 March 1933, Goebbels used the press, the radio, the cinema and all other media to skilfully present the ?F?hrer myth? to the public. The effect that this propaganda had on some people was extraordinary. As Dorothy Thompson recounts; ?At Garmisch I met an American from Chicago. He had been at Oberammergau, at the Passion Play. ‘These people are all crazy,’ he said. ‘This is not a revolution, it’s a revival. They think Hitler is God. Believe it or not, a German woman sat next to me at the Passion Play and when Jesus was hoisted on the Cross, she said, ‘There he is. That is our Fuehrer, our Hitler.’ And when they paid out the thirty pieces of silver to Judas, she said ‘That is R?hm, who betrayed the Leader.? Although cases such as this were extreme and rare it shows that the ?F?hrer Myth? did serve to increase and sustain the support of the German people during the Nazi regime. A more common sentiment towards the f?hrer can be gauged from this extract of a typical letter sent to Hitler; ?My F?hrer! ? I feel compelled by unceasing love to thank our creator daily for ? giving us ? such a wonderful F?hrer??
The Nazis had to implement social projects to satisfy members of the public who would be most disadvantaged by the regime. The most important of these programs included the extensive development of Hitler Youth, the ?Kraft durch Freude? program for industrial workers, and programs to encourage women to abide by the Nazi slogan which defined the females of the Third Reich; ?Kinder, Kuche und Kirche? (children, kitchen and church). All these programs were conducted to make these people feel part of the ?new German community? or volksgemeinschaft.
Under the leadership of Baldur von Schirach the Hitler J?gend rapidly developed after 1933. Most of the German youth found HJ and the HJ activities quite attractive because of the excitement and camaraderie to be found there. The purpose of developing HJ was to achieve a lasting transformation of society according to Nazi values by winning over the ears of the youth and indoctrinating them with Nazi ideals making them firm supporters of the Nazi regime.
The Nazis needed to gain the support of industrial workers, as they were a vital element in the rearmament plans. They were however, not part of central Nazi ideology. To do this Hitler introduced the ?Strength through Joy? movement which provided holidays, concerts and sporting events for workers who never enjoyed such privileges before. There was also a ?beauty of work? campaign which was aimed at improving working conditions to compensate for the lack of pay rises and unions. The workers believing Hitler?s claims that he had done away with social prejudices, and becoming deceived by the party?s ?bread and circuses? policy, began giving the Nazi party their support.
According to Nazi ideology women were seen as biologically destined to give birth to healthy Aryan children and to stay at home and look after them. As a result women were discouraged and sometimes forced to quit jobs and employers were encouraged to discriminate according to gender. As a way of maintaining the support from women the Nazis idolised motherhood and provided compensations for women who chose to raise a family. For example interest free loans were given to families with children. Also medals were given to women who raised large families.
By 1936 Hitler and the Nazi party had the active support of the German people behind them. But even then there were small opposition groups indicating that a large minority were dissatisfied with the regime. The party was not hesitant in using terror as a way of stopping these people from spreading adverse propaganda. Support is always easier to maintain when the people who don?t like the regime don?t talk about the regime. The SS and the notorious Gestapo were ever present at the back of opposition minds. People who put out publications or other material containing information that was not approved could easily get shot or hanged. Even before the Nazis came to power terror was employed through the SA whose function, other than to parade, was to threaten and attack oppositions, and to disturb meetings of other opposition groups. During the passing of the Enabling Act the SA were actually patrolling the Reichstag, helping politicians to vote the right way. If not a way of increasing support, terror was certainly the Nazi way of ensuring the support that they already had was maintained.
The Nazis were basically products of the Treaty of Versailles and the depression and a Mittelstand response to unemployment, the growing working class, bolshevism and economic strife. They were able to capitalise on the economic turmoil and national outrage to gain support before and during their accession to power. Once in control of Germany the most vital factor, which contributed to the continuation of support was propaganda; the ability to deceive the public that all was well in the Third Reich. Comparatively Hitler?s foreign and domestic policy successes were of minor importance. As a final evaluation it can be said that when normal people are subjected to extreme conditions they usually start searching for extreme solutions and the increasing support experienced by the Nazi party was a consequence of desperation.
Bibliography Dick Geary, ?Who voted for the Nazis? (Electoral history of the NSDAP)?, History Today, Issue: Oct, 1998
JM, “The Rise of the Nazi Party”. Planet Papers. Mar. 2001. B Dennet & S Dixon, ?Key Features of Modern History?, Oxford University Press, 2000
DJ Martin, ?Rise of Nazism as a popular force?, Teaching History 29(3), 1995
L Degrelle, ?How Hitler Consolidated Power in Germany and Launched A Social Revolution?, The Journal of Historical Review, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 299-370, IHR
NB:This essay was written for an Year 12 HSC assesment task.