When Hitler became chancellor in 1933, he did not have much real power. This was because the NSDAP (Nazis) did not have a majority in the Reichstag (they had received 33.5 per cent of the votes in the last elections held in 1932), nor in the Cabinet (they held three of the 12 cabinet posts).
Uncomfortable seat
Archiv Gerstenberg
Study the sources and answer the question: Question: Why did this American cartoonist regard Hitler's position as chancellor an uncomfortable one?
The only way for Hitler to solve this was to have new elections and try to win a majority of the seats.
He persuaded Hindenburg to call new elections for March 1933.
There were now 647 Reichstag seats available in the elections. The Nazis needed to win 324 of these in order to win a majority.
Seats needed by the Nazis
The Communist Party was his toughest opposition as it was also an extremist party that attracted the people who were suffering during those desperate times.
Test yourself
Drag the flags of the Nazis and Communists to the correct place on the political spectrum:
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