NSDAP

NSDAP, abbreviation for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. Its origin was in a small extremist party, located chiefly in Bavaria (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei) and led by Anton Drexler (1884-1942). Hitler was made a member in 1919 and soon became its dominating personality. Its platform was nationalistic and anti-Semitic, and in its first years it gathered members at only a moderate rate. Its full title, signified by NSDAP, dates from February 1920. In November 1923 the Munich branch of the party, headed by Hitler, attempted an armed revolt, which was easily put down (see Hitlerputsch). Hitler was tried and condemned to five years' imprisonment, and the NSDAP (at that time flourishing only in Bavaria) was banned. Hitler was released late in 1924 and reconstituted the party in February 1925. Its aim was now the achievement of power without infringement of the constitution. After four years of slow expansion, the NSDAP suddenly found a favourable climate for growth in the economic crisis of 1929 and the following years. In 1928 it had obtained 12 seats in the Reichstag, but at the elections of September 1929 the number rose to 107. From this point on, the party was a political force of national significance.

In October 1931 a demonstrative assembly at Bad Harzburg affirmed an alliance (see Harzburger Front) between the ultra-conservative parties (Deutschnationale and Stahlhelm) and the NSDAP. A period of stress followed, marked by Hitler's unsuccessful candidature for the presidency against Hindenburg, by street rowdyism and violence, and by a ban on the SA. Elections held in July 1932 resulted in the return of 230 NSDAP deputies, making the party the strongest in the Reichstag. Pressure mounted for National Socialist representation and for the inclusion of the leaders in the cabinet. In November, at a further general election, the NSDAP representation dropped to 196. The feeling that the tide had turned helped to make the conservative leaders more ready to tolerate Hitler, but negotiations for the chancellorship failed at that time, only to be renewed in January 1933, when a cabinet composed mainly of conservatives was formed with Hitler as chancellor (30 January).

Hitler soon outmanœuvred his conservative colleagues, establishing a completely National Socialist government, and on 14 July 1933 the NSDAP was declared the only political party. This situation continued until the collapse of Germany in 1945 In. 1934, however, the party had undergone a crisis, arising out of dissatisfaction in the leadership of the SA. This movement was scotched by Hitler in the murderous purge of 30 June 1934 (see Röhm, E.). A feature designed to impress both Germany and the world was the annual Party Rally (Reichsparteitag) held at Nuremberg, with mass parades of disciplined formations and skilful handling of propaganda techniques. See also Anti-Semitism.