March 1933 German Federal Election

Held under Nazi terror

5 March 1933 · The destruction of democracy · 647 seats, 324 for a majority

Federal elections were held in Germany on 5 March 1933, after the Nazi seizure of power on 30 January and just six days after the Reichstag fire.

This vote was held under state terror, with opposition parties suppressed, and was only partially free. It is recorded here as history, not as a normal election.

Chancellor before

Adolf Hitler

NSDAP

Chancellor (continued)

Adolf Hitler

NSDAP

Largest force

NSDAP

288 of 647 seats

Turnout

88.7%

The result

Sort by

NSDAP

Adolf Hitler · 43.9% of votes · +92 seats

288

seats

SPD

Otto Wels · 18.3% of votes · -1 seats

120

seats

KPD

12.3% of votes · -19 seats

seats

Centre

Ludwig Kaas · 11.3% of votes · +3 seats

seats

DNVP

Alfred Hugenberg · 8.0% of votes · +1 seats

seats

BVP

Heinrich Held · 2.7% of votes · -1 seats

seats


NSDAP	Adolf Hitler	288	+92	17.277.180	43.9%	+10.8
SPD	Otto Wels	120	-1	7.181.629	18.3%	-2.1
KPD	—	81	-19	4.848.058	12.3%	-4.6
Centre	Ludwig Kaas	73	+3	4.424.905	11.3%	-0.6
DNVP	Alfred Hugenberg	52	+1	3.136.760	8.0%	-0.3
BVP	Heinrich Held	19	-1	1.073.552	2.7%	-0.4

14 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.