German federal election, November 1932
- KPD: 100
- SPD: 121
- Z: 70
- BVP: 20
- DVP: 11
- DNVP: 52
- NSDAP: 196
- Otherwise:. 14
In the 14 seats under "Other" 5 for the CSVD
The Reichstag election of November 6, 1932 election to the 7th German Reichstag. She had become necessary because Paul von Hindenburg had dissolved the Reichstag after a heavy defeat of the parliamentary government under Franz von Papen. The election ended with significant loss of votes of the NSDAP. For a short time the rise of the party seemed to have stopped it. However, parliamentary government was not possible. After the short reign of Kurt von Schleicher Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor. The following elections March 5, 1933 have already been held in the shadow of incipient dictatorship.
Prehistory
After the general election of July 1932, no government could be formed on a parliamentary basis, despite the high profits of the NSDAP. There were behind the scenes various simulations and considerations. To veritable coalition negotiations in Prussia and the Reich arose between the NSDAP and the Centre Party. Driving forces were Joseph Joos from workers wing of the center and the Reich Organization Leader of the NSDAP Gregor Strasser. Hitler and Joseph Goebbels saw in the negotiations especially a pressure medium. Their goal was a presidential cabinet under Hitler's leadership. The negotiations between the center and the NSDAP failed finally.
The newly elected Reichstag came on 30 August for the inaugural meeting under the leadership of the elder member Clara Zetkin (KPD ) together. Zetkin gave a rabble-rousing opening speech, in which she gave, among others, hopes to soon open as " the elder member of the first Congress of Soviets Soviet Germany." The most important item on the agenda was the election of the President of the Reichstag. After parliamentary tradition was this office of the NSDAP to be the strongest faction. The center signaled, Hermann Goering mitzuwählen. The SPD and the KPD wanted to vote against this. With votes from the center and NSDAP Goering was elected on the first ballot. Paul Lobe, the candidate of the SPD, was subject also in elections to the Vice President. The Presidium of the Reichstag was thus without a representative of the left-wing parties.
The Presidential Cabinet of Franz von Papen continued to rule without parliamentary support on the basis of Notverordnungsrechts of the President. On 4 and 5 September the government issued emergency regulations with a clear pro-business orientation about in terms of the collective bargaining law easing.
September crisis
The pressure on the government Papen became clear during the single regular meeting of the members elected at the previous general election 6th German Reichstag on 12 September 1932. As an agenda item only receiving a government statement was provided, but the Communists sought the annulment of two emergency decrees and a vote of no confidence against the government of Papen. No one raised an objection. The Nazis allowed the meeting for half an hour break to coordinate with Hitler, and then supported the complaint. This was von Papen, the time needed to hurry to send a messenger to the Chancellery, where to date a pre- signed by President Paul von Hindenburg resolution order (based on § 25 of the Weimar Constitution ) and return to the Reichstag.
Under insults and boos of Deputies Papen entered now with the red portfolio under his arm, the Reichstag and waved her provocative to the deputies. Hermann Goering opened the meeting again and promptly declared that they would now vote on the communist request. In vain asked von Papen the word him in accordance with the Rules of Procedure in the normal case at any time should have been granted. Goering looked during the current voting intentionally left and " overlooked " thus the Chancellor. Papen then put the red resolution order on Goering's desk and left with his ministers the Reichstag. With the overwhelming majority of 513 to 42 votes, the Reichstag, finally picked up the Pape emergency decrees. Only DNVP and DVP were an imperial government. Goring pushed the wallet but as harmless aside, since it is countersigned by men who have just overthrown the Reichstag. Since the order but was effective with the laying on Goering's desk and thus before finding the voting results, the dissolution of the Reichstag was legal tender and were elections November 6 at the latest. The Reichstag was dissolved on the ground " ... because there is a risk that the Reichstag demanded the repeal of my emergency decree of 4 September this year. "
Papen had suffered a severe defeat, but remained in office. Not in the House, but in the evening on the radio, he presented his policy statement. In it, he outlined his planned new political order. In place of formal democracy should enter a " non-partisan national governance." The influence of the voters should be limited primarily to the election of the president. Prussia and the empire should be governed together. A strong role should get professional body elements. Crucial for the survival of the Papen government were successful in fighting unemployment. However, the creation of job creation measures did not materialize.
Election campaign and results
The election campaign was markedly different from that in the spring of the year. Was this influenced by yet unknown violent clashes, the voting was now significantly less emotional. Special highlights did not exist. Apparently, to penetrate the supporters of the Nazi Party, the Communist Party used nationalist arguments. Was once again exacerbated the struggle against the SPD as " social fascist " main enemy. Shortly before the election took place in Berlin transport workers' strike then a collaboration between the Communist and National Socialist Factory Cell RGO organization.
The votes were against the election in the summer lower by 1.4 million voters. Thus, the turnout fell from 84.1 % to 80.6 %. The NSDAP lost a 2 million votes. The proportion of the party fell from 37.3% to 33.1 %. The number of mandates fell from 230 to 196 The SPD lost a 700,000 votes. The share of the vote fell slightly from 21.6% to 20.4%. But there were also quite gains. As in the last election was Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with 76% of the constituency with the highest share of votes for the Nazi Party. But now some Upper Hessian constituencies came to comparable results.
Among the winners were the DNVP and the KPD. The DNVP was able to win 900,000 votes. Your share of the vote rose to 8.9%. The KPD had 600,000 votes more than in the summer. Representing a share of 16.9%. The two Catholic parties center and BVP suffered slight losses. The German State Party and the DVP remained negligible without losing farther.
The background for the declining turnout in the election fatigue after the numerous recent polls transitions. In the last elections the NSDAP had previous non-voters can win for themselves. This was different this time. Another factor was the dissatisfaction with the parties previously elected, including the NSDAP.
Quite remarkable is the good performance of the DNVP. This also meant approval for the Papen government, but this was supported by the DNVP. The government benefited apparently of the first signs of economic recovery. From the NSDAP many medium-sized and middle-class voters were disappointed but also of political violence as a result of joining forces with the KPD in Berlin transport workers' strike. The political left, so the SPD and KPD, were put together again stronger than the NSDAP. As a result of mutual mistrust and accusations of social fascism played this but politically irrelevant. Moreover, there has been a significant shift of the SPD towards the KPD. The Communists were now moved up close to the SPD.
Follow
The forward headline after the election " downside with Hitler. " Similarly, the headlines in civil leaves. The German Allgemeine Zeitung saw in the result of a "political warning to the Nazis because of the magic of the irresistible broken" is. It also saw the leadership of the Nazi Party. Goebbels in his diary about a " setback. " The unstoppable translucent Rise of the Nazis seemed stopped. On the economic level, slight signs of recovery and thus the hope drawn from a political radicalization.
Inside, the party had to contend with the power struggle between Hitler and Strasser. The donations from industry and other circles flowed sparse and the party stood there with a largely empty party coffers. With effort and the effort of all forces to the state election in Lippe in 1933 to win with 39.5 %, which was far Germany exploited for propaganda purposes by the Nazi party succeeded.
While it still given after the previous election a mathematical possibility of a coalition between the NSDAP, BVP and center, this now was no longer available. In order for a new parliamentary majority was provisionally excluded. The clear anti-parliamentary parties KPD, NSDAP and DNVP together accounted for the majority. It was expected that the new Reichstag government again express as soon as possible and the suspicions would lift emergency regulations. Papen suggested Hindenburg therefore propose a dissolution of Parliament and the currency out of elections, therefore, a temporary dictatorship. Kurt von Schleicher has not agreed on behalf of the army for fear of a civil war. Schleicher sat on the moderate wing of the NSDAP Gregor Strasser to win for government participation and thus to split the party. He also believed the free trade unions to be able to get on board. He wanted to bring a government across all stock as possible with a parliamentary majority to pass. Hindenburg was persuaded of them, dismissed Papen and appointed Schleicher to form a government. Its cross- front concept failed because of the reluctance of trade unions and the disempowerment Strasser by Hitler. Papen as an opponent of Schleicher approached to Hitler and succeeded, supported by the camarilla to Hindenburg, to win the Reich President for Government Papen - Hitler. On 30 January 1933, Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor. The next parliamentary elections March 5, 1933 have already taken place under the conditions of the emerging dictatorship of Hitler.