11th March 1932
Presidential Election of 1932 (I)
National Socialist propaganda postcard issued by the N.S. Gefangenen- und Verwundetenhilfe (National Socialist Prisoners’ and Wounded Aid), from a design by Felix Albrecht (1900–1980). The illustration depicts uniformed SA men advancing beneath a swastika banner and carries the facsimile inscription of SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm, “Der Wille erzwingt den Sieg” — “Willpower compels victory.” Attached is a 50-Pfennig donation label inscribed “Reichspräsidenten-Wahlkampf – Entscheidungsjahr 1932”, relating the card to Hitler's unsuccessful campaign against Paul von Hindenburg in the presidential elections of March–April 1932. Although the underlying postcard design has been attributed to c.1929, the description of Röhm as Stabschef suggests that this particular version was produced no earlier than 1931; its precise issue date requires further confirmation. The card provides an unusually concentrated example of pre-1933 Nazi propaganda linking the SA, political campaigning, fund-raising and the support organisation for imprisoned and wounded National Socialists. Ref: Fleurs & Papillons
Albrecht (1900–1980) is significant. He joined the NSDAP in 1927, was in the SA from 1927–29, joined the SS in 1930, and became an established designer of National Socialist propaganda. Importantly, archival material confirms that he was producing NSDAP election artwork in 1932, including material for Hitler's presidential campaign.
Part One — The Presidential Election of 1932: Hitler challenges Hindenburg
By early 1932 Germany was experiencing a severe political and economic crisis. Unemployment had reached more than six million, parliamentary government had become increasingly ineffective, and Chancellor Heinrich Brüning governed extensively through presidential emergency decrees. Against this background came the election for the most powerful directly elected office in the Weimar Republic: Reich President.
The seven-year term of President Paul von Hindenburg, elected in 1925, was approaching its end. Hindenburg was now 84 and initially hoped that another election could be avoided by extending his term through constitutional amendment. Brüning attempted to secure the necessary parliamentary support, but Adolf Hitler and Alfred Hugenberg refused to cooperate. Hindenburg consequently agreed to stand for re-election.
The political alignments were remarkable. Hindenburg was a conservative former Field Marshal who had defeated the republican candidate in 1925, yet in 1932 the Social Democratic Party (SPD) supported him. Faced with the possibility of Hitler becoming president, the SPD did not nominate its own candidate and urged its supporters to vote for Hindenburg. The Catholic Centre Party and other moderate parties also supported him. Hindenburg therefore found himself relying heavily upon voters who had once opposed him.
The principal challengers were Adolf Hitler of the NSDAP, Ernst Thälmann of the Communist Party (KPD), and Theodor Duesterberg, deputy leader of the nationalist veterans' organisation Stahlhelm and candidate of the nationalist right.
Hitler faced an unusual obstacle: although he had lived in Germany since before the First World War, he was still stateless and therefore could not stand for president. On 25th February 1932, the Nazi-controlled government of Braunschweig appointed him to a minor government position as Regierungsrat. The appointment conferred German citizenship, removing the legal obstacle to his presidential candidacy.
The NSDAP presented Hitler as the representative of a younger, dynamic Germany in contrast to the elderly Hindenburg and the existing political establishment. The election therefore became far more than a contest between individual candidates: it demonstrated the extent to which National Socialism had developed from a fringe movement into a major electoral force.
The first ballot took place on 13th March 1932. Hindenburg received 49.6 per cent, Hitler 30.1 per cent, Thälmann 13.2 per cent and Duesterberg 6.8 per cent. Hindenburg had come tantalisingly close to victory but had failed to obtain the absolute majority required on the first ballot.
Hitler had not won, but approximately three German voters in ten had supported him. More importantly, Hindenburg's failure to cross the 50 per cent threshold meant that the contest was not over.
Germany would vote again on 10th April 1932.
PART TWO CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE ELECTION
Sources:
German Federal Archives — Presidential Election, 1932 — Federal archival account of the candidates, ballots and Hindenburg's re-election. Bundesarchiv Weimar
German Historical Museum (LeMO) — Reich Presidential Election 1932 — useful overview of Hindenburg's candidacy and both ballots. Deutsches Historisches Museum (DHM)
Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) — Destruction of Democracy, 1930–1933 — detailed discussion of the election, Hitler's citizenship and the political alignments behind the candidates. bpb.de
German History in Documents and Images — Hitler's German citizenship — documents Hitler's Braunschweig appointment on 25th February 1932.
The Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstadt confirms Felix Albrecht as a designer of NSDAP material for the April 1932 presidential election. Arcinsys
Contemporary reporting confirms the two-stage presidential election and the continuation of campaigning after the 13th March ballot. Exist
Research into the Munich NSDAP documents the activities of the Gefangenen- und Verwundetenhilfe during 1932. Dokumen