|
 


    
  

      
   

ë


  
  
 
    
m

 
 



 




 
 
  

!
"

    
#
  
 
 

$


   





 


%


%




!
&
   


    


'




   $!
"()(


   
   $ 
$
'
 '
*+,m 
  ' 

    
 


'

 
  
!
In May 1924, the economic crisis
in the Weimar Republic was at
its height. Hyperinflation was
rampant and unemployment stood þ
 
 
 
at 2 million (13.5%), its peak for
the period,. In this context the
Nazis fought their first election
and achieved a very creditable
32 seats in the Reichstag (6.7%
of the total).
ëy November 1924, the economic
crisis in the Weimar Republic
was coming to an end. The
hyperinflation had been brought þ
 
 
 
under control following the
introduction of the Rentenmark,
and unemployment had fallen by
half since May to 1 5million
(6.7%). In this context the Nazi
policies were far less attractive
and they lost seats in the
Reichstag, falling to just 14
members (2.8% of the total).
In May 1928, the Weimar
Republic was at its popular peak.
The crisis of 1923-24 seemed
only a bitter memory as the þ
 
 
 
economy boomed and
unemployment remained
relatively low. Even though it had
risen to 1.5 million (10%) since
1924, this was not seen as a huge
problem. In this situation the
Nazis seemed to be a spent
force in elections, gaining just 12
Reichstag seats (2.4% of the
total).
ëy September 1930, the
economy of Germany was in deep
depression as a result of the
Wall Street Crash of November
1929 and the recall of the þ
 
 
 
American loans that had propped
it up. Unemployment had
rocketed to 3.1 million (15.3%),
and the Weimar politicians
seemed incapable of solving the
problems. In this situation the
Nazis began to be seen as a way
out, and their support rose. They
gained 107 Reichstag seats
(18.5% of the total).
ëy July 1932, the economic
depression that followed the
1929 crash was at its peak.
Unemployment had continued to
rise and now stood at 5.5 million
(30.1%). The faith of the German
people in democracy seemed to
be totally shattered. The Nazis
continued their meteoric rise in
popularity in this election,
winning 230 Reichstag seats
(37.8% of the total).
ëy November 1932, the economic
depression was beginning to come
to an end. Unemployment had
started to fall, but still stood at
the vast figure of 5 million
(27%). It seemed as though the
crisis was over. Support for the
Nazis fell slightly, but they still
remained the largest single party
in the Reichstag by far, with 196
seats (33.5% of the total).
The elections of March 1933 do
not fit the pattern of those
between 1924 and 1932. With
unemployment falling (to 4.5
million or 23.3%), the trend of
the graph shows us that the
Nazis should have lost more
seats. However their seats in the
Reichstag rose to 288 or 44.5%
of the total.
r 
  

     

      
 
  !" 
  #

             

 
       
     

#$%&&r&'r&())*r+&*&,,,

-(&.
 
  
   
   
    "
    
     
 
      


  


 
     #
- m. 
 '.
/ 
$ $ 
 0
  1




$   1
! (%

  

 









 !
2! (%

  




   
 

 


! 

 %
 
 
 



   

  
 
%


'
 $

!




$

!*'


1
!  %

%


    


 
%
3"



 
!
2!  %

%


    "m( 
   

!
!  




 $ 

 
 





    


 &3
 !