Reichstag elections

© fes General german union's federation (Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerk- schaftsbund) election poster asking to elect SPD and illustrating the worker's enemies: "Row KPD, social reaction and national socialists, monarchists"

For the NSDAP the results of the Reichstag elections of 14 September 1930 signify its definitive rise from a marginal political party to a political factor in Germany which had to be taken seriously. Hitler’s “brown shirts,” who could attain only 2.8% of votes in the 1928 elections, now increase their share to 18.3 % (107 Reichstag mandates). That makes the NSDAP the second strongest party after the SPD, which attains 24.5 % (143 mandates) of the vote. Even the communists attain their best results to date with 13.1 % (77 mandates). However, the election results have no influence on the formation of the government: Heinrich Brüning (Centre, 1885-1970) remains Reich Chancellor. His minority cabinet consists of seven parties and can count on the support of only a third of all Reichstag delegates.