Unused ballot with 5 candidates, including Hindenburg and Hitler, for the first 1932 German presidential election
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 5.625 inches (14.288 cm) | Width: 4.000 inches (10.16 cm)
Archival History
The ballot was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, The Abraham and Ruth Goldfarb Family Acquisition Fund
Funding Note: The acquisition of this collection was made possible by The Abraham and Ruth Goldfarb Family Acquisition Fund.
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Unused ballot distributed for the first round of the 1932 Presidential election in Germany held March 12. The last election had been held in 1925. By the 1930s, the skilled propaganda campaigns of the Nazi Party had transformed Adolf Hitler from a little known extremist to a leading candidate for President. The first ballot had five candidates with the incumbent President, Paul von Hindenburg, receiving 49.6% of the vote - just short of the majority. A second run-off election between Hindenburg, Hitler, and Thalmann, the Communist candidate, was held on April 10. Hindenburg obtained the largest vote percentage, 53%, and was re-elected to a second seven-year term of office. Hitler received 37% of the vote. On January 30, 1933, Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Small, rectangular, offwhite paper ballot with German text in Fraktur typeface printed in black ink. The election title is at the top in large, bold font. Below is a chart with 6 horizontal rectangular divisions with 2 columns. The left column is a wide, rectangular section with no vertical line closing the left side. This column contains the candidate’s name in bold font with their position title. There are 5 candidates, so the final, 6th row is blank. The right column is a series of square boxes with an empty circle outline to use to mark one's vote. The ballot is unused and printed slightly off-center. The reverse is blank.
Subjects
- Germany--Politics and government--1918-1933.
- National socialism--Germany--History--Sources.
- Political campaigns--Germany--History--20th century.
- Elections--Germany--History--20th century.
Genre
- Information Forms
- Object