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Why did Adolf Hitler need support from other parties after the March 1933 election?
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Adolf Hitler
Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, c. 1933.
Following the March 5, 1933, election, Adolf Hitler required support from other political parties because the Nazi Party failed to secure an outright majority in the Reichstag. Despite using state power and intimidation tactics during the campaign, the Nazis captured only 288 of the 647 available seats.12
Hitler needed this parliamentary support for two primary reasons:
- Establishing a Majority: To govern effectively, Hitler initially relied on his coalition with the German National People’s Party, which provided the necessary votes to secure a bare majority in the Reichstag.12
- Passing the Enabling Act: To transition from a chancellor to a dictator, Hitler sought the passage of the Enabling Act. This legislation required a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag to grant his government the power to issue decrees independently of the legislature and the president. By offering assurances and promises, Hitler secured the necessary support from the Nationalists and the Centre Party, allowing the act to pass on March 23, 1933.123