Who voted for Hitler? | Parties of Weimar 1918 - 1933

We will find out which socioeconomic classes voted for Hitler.
Sources:
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Borowsky, P. Wer wählte Hitler und warum? Ein Bericht über neuere Analysen der Wahlergebnisse 1928 bis 1933. In: Borowsky, P. (2005). Schlaglichter historischer Forschung. Studien zur deutschen Geschichte im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert. Pp. 235-253. Hamburg University Press: Hamburg.
Childers, T. (1976). The Social Bases of the National Socialist Vote. In: Journal of Contemporary History, 11 (1976), pp. 17-42.
Childers, T./Weiss, E. (1990). Voters and Violence: Political Violence and the Limits of National Socialist Mass Mobilization. In: German Studies Review, Vol. 13, No. 3 (oct., 1990), pp. 481-498.
Falter, J. W. (1979). Wer verhalf der NSDAP zum Sieg? Neure Forschungsergebnisse zum parteipolitischen und sozialen Hintergrund der NSDAP-Wähler 1924-1933. In: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, online: www.researchga... (27.09.2024).
Falter, J. W. (1987). Warum die deutschen Arbeiter während des „Dritten Reiches“ zu Hitler standen. Einige Anmerkungen zu Günther Mais Beitrag über die Unterstützung des nationalsozialistischen Herrschaftssystems durch Arbeiter. In: Geschichte und Gesellschaft, 13. Jahrg., H. 2, Sozialpolitik im Vergleich, pp. 217-231.
Falter, J. W. (2013). Der Aufstieg der NSDAP 1928-1933 im Lichte des Cleavage-Konzeptes von Lipset und Rokkan. In. Karlhofer, et al (Eds), Medienzentrierte Demokratien: Befunde, Trends, Perspektiven. Festschrift für Univ.Prof. Dr. Fritz Plasser. Facultas.wuv.
Falter, J. W. (2013). Wählerbewegungen zur NSDAP 1924-1933: methodische Probleme - empirisch abgesicherte Erkenntnisse - offene Fragen [1980]. Historical Social Research, Supplement, 25, pp. 49-89.
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Fischer, C. (1982). The SA of the NSDAP: Social Background and Ideology of the Rank and File in the Early 1930s. In: Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 651-670.
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Mai, G. (1986). “Warum steht der deutsche Arbeiter zu Hitler?“ Zur Rolle der Deutschen Arbeitsfront im Herrschaftssystem des Dritten Reiches. In: Geschichte und Gesellschaft, 12. Jahrg., H. 2, Faschismus in autoritären Systemen, pp. 212-224.
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Zitelmann, R. (2022). Hitler’s National Socialism. Management Books 2000 Ltd: Oxford.
Correction:
27:22 Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934)

[@celestialoof6346]

Great video!

[@michaelfreiherr]

Thank you!

[@bonso237]

"Nazism" or "Nazi" derives from "Nationalsozialismus", the ideology of the NSDAP, Hitlers party. "Sozi" was a common colloquialism for "Socialists" and they then called their opponents "Nazi" in return. This has absolutely nothing to do with the first-name "Ignatius". This is pretty common knowledge that even is in the wikipedia article on Nazism. It is a shame because this strange faux pas makes the whole analysis look bad.

[@michaelfreiherr]

"Nazi" is a play on words! You have this party originating in an area were many people are called Ignatius (Nazi) and this name fits perfectly to the short form for "Nationalsozialist" (like you see in the term Nazi-Sozi). So it was used as a derogatory term and became a commonly accepted word for the political movement. Similar to what happend to "Whig". I always thought it was just a short word for Nationalsozialist, too, until I read it somewhere.

[@tylerbozinovski427]

Yes, "Nationalsozialismus" was shortened in much the same way that "Sozialdemokratie" was, but the use of "Nazi" as an insult was most likely also intended to be a pun on the slur used for Bavarian peasants that derived from "Ignatz".

[@bonso237]

Thanks folks! I stand corrected, as this (outdated) wordplay seems to have made "Nazi" also an insult already in the days of the Weimar republic.

[@LeLe-bo7cs]

people called them nazi-sozi early on. nazi had nothing to do with sozialismus.

[@KilledMind1985]

Hey, I think you are wrong about correlation between Catholic vs. Protestant voters. Bavaria and Württemberg were mostly catholic but they also not Part of the Prussian kingdom but independent until 1871. Prussia was largely Protestant. So they don't fit the narrative of a great german nation so well. Bavarians have their own national identity until now including a dialect. During WW1 conscripts from Bavaria usually joint the navy, because they didn't want to die for the Prussians. Also Bavaria has no coastline. When the order to sail came 1918, they mutinied.

[@michaelfreiherr]

Hi, I cannot fully follow your thoughts. Can you reference a specific time in the video? Yes, the Nazis were weaker in Catholic areas, at least after 1930. The conservative Zentrum (I made a video about them) had their powerbase in the West and the South and their main position was anti-Greater-Gemany (except for Austria because that might add Catholic population).

[@JamesTaylor-on9nz]

Very informative video and an interesting channel. I like how you approach the subject meticulously rather than going for sweeping generalizations, like most pop-history channels. I'm hoping you might do another video diving into the influence of the military and industrial establishment on the success of the NSDAP. In my experience, new political movements (especially "revolutionary" movements) are almost always supported and endorsed by established powers within government, rather than through votes and popular support per se. From my study, it seemed that the Prussian military establishment that remained after WW1 in Germany already wanted a second war to reclaim German sovereignty and secure German political-economic interests. The reason for AH's political success had largely to do with the fact that his ideology aligned with the interests of the military, and they thought they could control him or remove him if he ever became troublesome.

[@michaelfreiherr]

Thank you! In my video about the conservative parties, I talked a little bit about the military and the nationalists. Interestingly, they were the only ones who really were a threat to the Nazis or at least Hitler. Still, some of their objectives were similar so they cooperated and never fully turned against Hitler. Probably because even an enormously powerful group like the military needs some popular support.

[@isaacschick1882]

Damn less than 1000 views and this level of quality?? Keep it up!

[@michaelfreiherr]

Well, the quality part originated in Jürgen Falter's book.

[@daviddressel2453]

Thanks for looking into the topic. From what I have heard, it seems that the party had some support from wealthy conservatives, at least at some point. I am wondering if the wealthy individuals who gave support were rewarded or if they were betrayed and got their wealth taken at some point when they party came into power. Or perhaps its dependent on each case and there isn't a pattern/policy. If you already have a video, or know of one, on this topic could you direct me to it. If not, perhaps you could consider it as a topic for a future video, or if its case specific perhaps a short series of videos on the fate of the wealthy individuals who thought they could gain by supporting the party.

[@michaelfreiherr]

I actually plan on looking into this issue. I already have Turner's book about Hitler and Big Business lying around, and am currently reading Götz Aly on how the war was financed (hint: taxes on the rich and plundering Europe). TIK history had a video on this, but I cannot recall which one it was. Of course, the Nazis gained support from all sides, including the wealthy, as they rose. However, while they were a small party, there were only rich guys supporting them, Krupp and some coal Magnat whose name I have forgotten. I have read Günter Reimann's "The Vampire Economy". He is close to being a Marxist and this makes his book very intriguing. According to him, one could become rich as a Nazi grande, however the regular entrepreneur would have a hard time since he could not make business decision, and had to pay for all political ideas while having all potential profits taxed away. Hope that helps!

[@trueSconox]

a bit enthusiasm would help. Also you got some audio hick ups.

[@michaelfreiherr]

I am really working hard on the enthusiasm bit. No matter how much I overact, it never seems to be enough. The audio hick ups ... I changed my way of recording because it saves me a lot of time but puts audible cuts into the track. Any tips on advanced recording?

[@AbyssIsSalvationHistory]

​@michaelfreiherr I think your enthusiasm is perfectly where it needs to be. He just mistakes your accent for the lack of it.

[@michaelfreiherr]

@ Thanks, but I am not sure myself. Whenever I listen to my own recordings it sounds like I am falling asleep. 😴

[@luhansanerguney7240]

Nice video!

[@Jochla]

Please explain me your though process in the sentence of 6:40

[@michaelfreiherr]

You mean calling a politician or party Nazi based on their voter pool? Well, for example, small business owners voted for the Nazis, therefore whichever of today's parties is preferred by business owners must be a Nazi party. That's how it started back then. -> business voted for Hitler, so the Nazis were capitalists Or, workers voted for the NSDAP, so whichever party today's workers vote for is a Nazis recreation. That's how it started back then. -> workers voted for Hitler, so the Nazis were socialists Or, the most ridiculous example I heard last year: some party won in Thuringia, that's were the Nazis started, so this new party must be a Nazi party. That's how it started back then.

[@Jochla]

​@michaelfreiherr Ahh ok, the sentence refers to why it is so broadly discussed in mordern times. Thank you.

[@tonniebaumeister]

Luther was an antisemite. Catholics had their parties like Zentrum and BVP. Catholics are also less nationalist, because their leader is abroad in the Vatican. Socialists and Communists had their own parties.

[@michaelfreiherr]

To be fair, during the time of Luther, many people were antisemites including the Catholics.

[@tonniebaumeister]

@michaelfreiherr Perhaps, but Luther wrote books like "The Jews and their Lies".

[@JudithMirville-Deschanels]

You should also mention those who had no choice but to join the Nazi Party ranks not to lose their jobs if they were employees or their clientele if they were employers : the Party progressed in the same way as the Italian Cosa Nostra, together with such unabashedly mafia parties as Berlusconi's Forza Italia, has done more recently. In time of great economic crisis, political idealism is the first to be thrown out of the window : you vote for those who treat you relatively well personally in exchange for your renouncement to political discussions no matter the party be good or ominous for the whole.

[@michaelfreiherr]

This is a highly data driven video! What it tells us about the voter's motivations is limited an very speculative. Were there people voting for or even joining the Nazis out of group pressure at the workplace? Surely! Personally, I doubt it played a big role since the Socialists dominated the worker's institutions. The Nazis had a very tough time, breaking this monopoly. This might have been different in the countryside.

[@bantix9902]

3:12 That's not an explanation, is it?

[@michaelfreiherr]

In the catholic countryside you have social pressure not to vote for the Nazis. Cities are more anonymous so the social pressure is not as high, even if the region is majority Catholic. Was this you question?

[@MrSpirit99]

Pretty much the same people that vote AFD today. Same counties same demographics. Except the Bavarians tuey vote CSU or Freie Wähler, but they are not that far off politically.

[@michaelfreiherr]

Correct, pretty much all of society.

[@christosoustabasidis3228]

How did the Nazis attract workers and catholics later on?

[@michaelfreiherr]

This question is even more difficult than the data analysis. I plan to do more research on it. For the Catholics, the Reichskonkordat definitely did the trick by shutting up the clergy. That is, if later on refers to the time after the Nazis took power. For the workers, I would say that seizing the institutions like the unions, formerly held by social democrats and communists, helped.

[@Sproke-s5u]

I did :)

[@michaelfreiherr]

Vote? How dare you!

[@Sproke-s5u]

@michaelfreiherr Yeah, I'm gonna VOOOOOOOOOTEEE