History of Nazi and Fascist Elections?

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

I was thinking about the history of elections in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

When they came to power, or when they continued their control were the Nazis or Facists 'elected' into office? Did they have to convince their people at some time to 'confirm their power'?

I know that for the Nazis and Facists to continue in thier efforts they needed their countries "buy off" to some degree...did that involve elections?

Seems like it would be an interesting parallel with the republicans in that many obviously support and re-elect them....yet piece by piece the republicans are 'going to far'....and maybe at some point the majority will see that they have crossed the line into being a true facist party....

I think many think many may feel that the nazi/facist take-overs were quick coups and the people had no choice in the matter...but i think actually their was more compliance and decisioning from the part of the people of Germany and Italy in choosing to be led by these groups.... "that could never happen here....we have elections and democacy!"

I think piece by piece the folks who support the republicans are walking down the same road as the folks who supported Nazis and Facisits.....then at some point they realize "Wait a minute....what have they done?"

I would appreciate any info on supporting this idea by providing more information or understanding on how Nazis or facists dealt with elections and getting the peoples' appprovals.

thanks...

PS this question was brought up by a discussion with a winger priend of mind who said flat out that the nazis and facists controlled everything....and that the people had no choice....and it could never happen here because we have elections...while i said that there was a lot of popular support for them during their rise and continued power....that there must have been some level of "elected acceptance" of the Nazi/Facist rule...thanks.

[Avalux]

1. The rise to power happened gradually, as it's happening here -

concerning the Nazis - they strong-armed their way into power with no one to stop them. After the Reichstag fire, fear was used to control the German people and the Enabling Act was passed that gave sweeping powers to Hitler and his party. After that, there was no longer a concern of having the support of the people. The Germans either did as they were told or else.

Read about it here:

Hitler Becomes Chancellor - 1932-1933
In September 1932, the Nazi members of the Reichstag, together with support form the Center Party elected the prominent Nazi Herman Goering as President of the Reichstag (equivalent to House Speaker). Using his new position, Goering managed to prevent the Chancellor from presenting an order to dissolve the Reichstag, whilst a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor and his government was passed. On January 30th, 1933 President Hindenburg decided to appoint Hitler Chancellor in a coalition government with Papen as Vice-Chancellor.

The Burning of the Reichstag - February 1933
The penultimate step towards Adolf Hitler gaining complete control over the destiny of Germany were taken on the night of 27th February 1933 when the Reichstag was destroyed by fire. The fire was almost certainly planned by the Nazis, Goebbels and Goering in particular. A Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was made scapegoat for the fire, but the main outcome was that Hitler was given an excuse to have all the Communist deputies of the Reichstag arrested.

The Enabling Act - March 1933
Thus dictatorial powers were finally conferred, legally, on Adolf Hitler. By July 14th Hitler had proclaimed a law stating that the Nazi Party was to be the only political party allowed in Germany. The Nazification of Germany was underway.

http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Biographies/MainBiographies/H/hitler/2.html

[Tempest]

2. There wasn't a lot of popular support for the Nazis

In the 1932 election, the Nazi party got less than 1/3 of the vote.

Hitler and the Nazi party took power after they threatened violence. Hindenberg appointed him Chancellor in order to keep the peace.

Hindenberg wrongly believed Hitler could be controlled if he was given a position in the government. Soon after, Hindenberg died and Hitler was able to push through the Enabling Act (right after the Reichstag fire) which named him supreme commander of Germany and allowed Hitler to take dictatorial powers.

[Igel]

3. There's a paucity of "fascist" states, so let's include the category

to mean just "totalitarian".

Some have been through coups. Particularly in South America. Georgia was added to the USSR because a small group of CP-Georgia members declared themselves the government and asked the USSR for help; the USSR promptly invaded.

Others through elections. Not quite "one man, one vote, one time": sometimes it went through a few election cycles, sometimes the "one vote" bit wasn't quite observed, and sometimes women were involved. Most E. European statelets were incorporated into the USSR hegemonistic zone in this way; it almost happened to Austria. Germany and Italy certainly followed that route.

In some cases it's a difficult call: coup or election? If the local Authority is organizing the elections, and allows opposition but marginalizes them in every way possible, is it a coup or election?