Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Reasons for the Increase in Support for the Nazis

Several factors combined to increase support for the Nazi Party in the early 1930's.

Hitler

Perhaps the Nazi Party’s greatest asset, Hitler portrayed himself as a strong leader who would save Germany. Compared to the Weimar Republic which was undermined by political problems, Hitler looked like he would solve Germany’s problems. He toured the country during the Presidential Election campaign in 1932 and persuaded wealthy individuals and businesses to finance the Nazi Party.

The SA

Law and order had weakened in Weimar society and the police struggled to deal with fighting between political groups. The SA protected Nazi meetings but also disrupted other parties’ meetings, which showed that the Nazis were good at suppressing dissent and keeping members of the party safe. This further emphasised Hitler’s reputation as a strong leader.

Nazi appeal to different sections of society

To broaden their appeal, the Nazis tailored their message to different parts of German society. For example, the party promised jobs for the unemployed, bread for the poor, and farmers were promised that their land would be protected from the Communists. For the wealthy, the Nazis promised to smash the Communists, and for business owners they promised they would deal with the trade unions.

Whole nation policy

The Nazis placed a huge importance on the success and importance of Germany as a nation which differed from other political parties in campaigning which divided the electorate into different groups and targeted them.