1932 German presidential election — presidential election of the Weimar Republic
The last direct German presidential election before 1949, it returned Hindenburg over Hitler but failed to halt the Nazi path to power.
Key Facts
- First round date
- 13 March 1932
- Runoff date
- 10 April 1932
- Winner
- Paul von Hindenburg (independent, incumbent)
- Thälmann runoff vote share
- Over 10%
- Next German presidential election
- 1949 (indirect, West Germany)
- Hindenburg's subsequent term length
- Seven years
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Under the Weimar Republic, deep political polarization and the Great Depression had paralyzed the Reichstag, leaving Germany governed by presidential decrees since March 1930. The rapid rise of the Nazi Party and Hitler's radical nationalism, antisemitism, and anti-republicanism made the election highly contested, pushing many left-wing voters reluctantly toward incumbent Hindenburg despite his conservative origins.
On 13 March 1932, Germany held the second and final direct presidential election of the Weimar Republic. Incumbent Paul von Hindenburg failed to secure the required absolute majority in the first round against Adolf Hitler, Ernst Thälmann, and Theodor Duesterberg. In the runoff on 10 April, Hindenburg won a second seven-year term, defeating Hitler and Thälmann.
Hindenburg's victory did not arrest Nazi momentum. Two further Reichstag elections in 1932 made the NSDAP the largest party, and in January 1933 Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor. After Hindenburg's death in 1934, Hitler merged the presidency and chancellorship. Germany held no further presidential election until 1949, and all subsequent German presidential elections have been indirect.
Political Outcome
Paul von Hindenburg re-elected president in the runoff on 10 April 1932, defeating Adolf Hitler; last direct presidential election in Germany until 1949.
Hindenburg held the presidency with support from the right; Nazi Party was a rising but not yet governing force.
Hindenburg remained president but appointed Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933, enabling the Nazi seizure of power.