As one can see, the Nazis broke through into the elections in 1932 because their political, economical and social tactics were answers to the problems the Germans were suffering. They played on historic fears and complaints with great effect. They were there at the right time, not only with answers to the problems, but solutions to the problems.
On the 9th November 1923, Hitler marched on Munich. Along with 3000 Nazis and Ludendorff, Hitler set out in the snow to seize Munich. This plan did not succeed physically or according to plan but it was to make a big impact for the future of the Nazis in the long run. Two days after the March Hitler was arrested. During his trial he “seemed to snatch some kind of victory out of the jaws of defeat”. The trial was his platform to voice his views and opinions to the German nation. The trial established Hitler and the Nazi Party. Many people were drawn in not just by what Hitler said but by the way he said it, he was fluent and eloquent. Although he was dealt with leniently Hitler did not win the judges over. He was sentenced to 5 years but only served 9 months.
Hitler spent much of his time in prison thinking of his plans for the Nazi party. In prison Hitler wrote Mein Kampf. It included his hopes and dreams for a new proud imperial Germany. This allowed many people to read and be drawn to what Hitler wanted. The people realised Hitler was their “saviour”; the book later became a best seller which shows how many people were interested in Hitler. Mein Kampf is basically a statement of the goals or fundamental ideas of the Nazi movement.
The disappointing failure of the Putsch convinced Hitler that the only sure, legit way to gain power was by legal means. In other words they would stand in elections, just like any other party to campaign for votes and if the Nazis had any hope of gaining power, it would have to be with the support or, at least, the neutrality of the army. Hitler had learnt his lesson the hard way. They would win power by democratic methods instead of trying to grab it by force. Hitler was forced to come to this decision not purely by his own desire, but by external factors. Many people were certain that with Hitler in jail the Nazi party had been destroyed before it was really able to blossom. The Nazi Party was banned following the aftermath of the Putsch. Nonetheless, while Hitler was still inside, he entered the Nazis (under another name) into the Reichstag elections for the first time. Once in power, the Nazis could dismantle the republic by using the organisations of the state itself The Nazi national revolution could then be established.
Hitler had to change the tactics of the Nazi party. Having regained faith in himself and always being the opportunist, he guided the Nazi party through this transformation.
When Hitler was released from prison he found the Nazi party in a state of disorder. Hitler formally re-established the party in Munich on the 27th February 1925, and promised to function within the republican system.
The Nazis manipulated people. They were able to take peoples fears and promise them solutions if in return they were promised a vote of support. Fighting peoples problems what a way to seek popularity, leading to votes and resulting in power.
Nazis strategies to gain power were very thought out whether they were within or outside the Nazi control. In some way those outside the Nazi control, were, one could say within Nazi control, they took the circumstances and changed them to suit the Nazi policies.
The factors within Nazi control benefited their popularity immensely. They said, did, or wrote things that would make people interested in them, allowing the Nazis to fill them with hopes to fit their fears.
Hitler was well aware of the Germans animosity towards the Treaty of Versailles so he used racism to gain their support. The Jews were used as scapegoats for Germanys problems. People liked this idea because the Jews were somewhat distinguishable by their so-called “features”. It is easy for a majority to push all their guilt onto a minority. Hitler and the Nazis also spread the fear of communism. This got them the support of businesses. Businessmen were fearful of communism and supported Hitler and gave him money as an alternative. The Nazis also understood how important propaganda was to achieve support. Joseph Goebbels published the propaganda. His use of film and newspaper was always excellent. It gave the Nazis a very strong appearance. It allowed them to give German people an insight into the future of Germany under Nazi control. Finally Goebbels always held big Nazi rallies in the street, and they would march on for hours. He never underestimated the power of rallies. It portrayed the Nazis as strong and willing, which many people understandably took a liking to.
The factors that were outside nazi control were obviously inevitable but the Nazis took advantage of the situations to further their own political support. The depression that was due to the Wall Street Crash affected the world and Germans were affected extremely badly because the American banks recalled the loans, which were helping to restore the industry. The exports slumped and millions of people lost jobs. It affected different people in different way, those who were now unemployed faced, poverty, hunger and homelessness. Some were protected from the first part of the depression, but later felt its impact. Businessmen saw their businesses close or at least their income fall. People had less money to spend, even to spend on food or clothes. To make matters even worse the government actually raised taxes. Farmers slipped further into debt, because they had not fully recovered since the 1920s. Half of people between 16 and 30 were unemployed and 60% of new university graduates could not get jobs. Many factory workers became redundant and the government cut unemployment benefits to save money. The Nazis knew this was a perfect situation to exploit. They realised the working class citizens were turning towards the communists although they did like the anti-Jewish message, which increased the anti-Jewish propaganda, so they focused their energy on the middle classes, where a lot of their support lay. Germans had always judged their country by economic success. The economy was falling and the Weimar government seemed to have no idea how to control it even though unemployment was rising as well as the growth of poverty. They tried to get them out of the depression but had little success. They were scared that the same problems that occurred in 1923 (inflation) would happen again. So they raised taxes, cut wages and reduced benefits, which was turning the Germans away from them and towards the Nazis who promised to bring Germany out of the depression and make them great again.
I think that one reason is not more important than any other. They all affect different aspects of German life and what the Nazis did to try and control the problem. They are all individual reasons for the Nazi’s success and result in a promising future for the Nazi party.
Hitler and the Nazi team changed their tactics in order to be recognised as a strong party in the Reichstag. They then manipulated the situation that Germany was in to their own advantage. People in Germany were tired of their poor quality of life. Hitler promised to make Germany proud again - it was exactly what the people wanted to hear. Hitler pledged something for every part of Germany society.