Why Did People Vote For The Nazi Party?

Democracy shakes hands with fascism

A photograph of Adolf Hitler from the German Federal Archives, 1937 (Wikimedia Commons)

If you’d taken part in Germany’s 1932 summer election, there’s a 37.4% chance you’d have voted for the Nazi Party.

Being a history buff, I’ve been aware of this statistic for many years now, and — having looked at the build-up to the election in detail — I can assure you the result makes a lot of sense.

So, if you’re looking around the world right now and wondering why centrist parties are struggling, analyzing the past may help you understand the present.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

A photograph of Wall Street by an unknown photographer, 1929 (Wikimedia Commons)

Politicians who are seeking power like to exploit economic turmoil, turning it into a weapon against their opponents.

The Nazis were no different.

Germany’s economy was in financial chaos after the First World War, and the Treaty of Versailles put a heavy burden on the shoulders of the German people. In addition to $32 billion in reparations, Germany also had to make payments in the form of resources, such as coal and steel.