The Nazis released millions of pro-Nazi leaflets and there was a proliferation of propaganda posters. Eight Nazi-owned newspapers, mass rallies, or public meetings, to put across the message also spread Nazi ideas. From 1930 to 1932 President Hindenburg and Chancellor Brüning governed Germany by making decrees. This was not a democratic form of government but it was not illegal. However it did mean that democracy started to die in these years. It also meant that friends of the President, such as army officers, had more influence over law making than the elected Reichstag. Despite the backing of President Hindenburg, Brüning was very unpopular. His policies not only failed to end the depression, they also angered many people in high places, such as business men and land owners, Taking advantage of Brüning's unpopularity, a senior army officer, General Schleicher, persuaded Hindenburg to sack him. Another Centre Party politician, Franz von Papen, took his place. Papen's government failed in a November election. The election gave Papen even fewer seats, so he went to Hindenburg with a new plan. He suggested closing down the …show more content…
Other people say that the Nazis started the fire. Regardless of who actually started the fire the Nazis used it to their advantage. It gave the Nazi election campaign a real boost. Hitler claimed that it was a communist plot against the government. He asked President Hindenburg for extra powers to deal with the plot. Believing that Germany was in danger, Hindenburg issued a "Law for the Protection of the people and the State". This emergency law suspended parts of the constitution. That allowed the Nazis to smash the Communist election campaign. Stormtroopers arrested 4,000 Communists, shut down Communist newspapers and broke up Communist meetings. General elections were held on the 5th March 1933. The results gave the Nazi party 44% of the vote. They still did not have a majority. Moreover the Communists still had 81 seats, while the democratic parties were almost unchanged. Hitler overcame this setback with the help of the Nationalist Party. He persuaded it to join forces with the Nazi Party. Their 52 seats, added to 288 seats of the Nazis amounted to just