Plebiscites in National Socialist Germany
Plebiscites in National Socialist Germany were among the democratic mechanisms that are often denied abroad in relation to National Socialism.
History
Hitler was not afraid to ask the opinion of the people. In National Socialist Germany, the administration asked the opinion of the people in case of important political decisions. During the plebiscites, usually over 90% of the people took part, and most of the voting people agreed with the politics of the administration. The ballot papers' text was easily understandable, and one could vote either with yes or with no.
- 1. 12 November 1933: Leaving the League of Nations (Völkerbund); Result: 95.1% yes
- The voter turnout was very high at 95.2%. The referendum resulted in 95.1% support for leaving the League of Nations.
- 2. 19 August 1934: After Paul von Hindenburg's death, the Reich Chancellor and the Reich President should be one person; Result: 89.9% yes
- 3. 13 January 1935: Territory of the Saar (Saarland) should once again be German; Result: 90.8% of the inhabitants wanted to join Germany, 8.8% wanted to be independent, 0.4% wanted to join France
- On 1 March 1935, seven weeks after the referendum, the Saar region became part of the German Reich again, initially under the name Saarland.
- 4. 29 March 1936: German military presence in the Rhineland as a balance to the French claim to power and a single party list for the new Reichstag composed exclusively of National Socialists and nominally independent 'guests' of the party; Result: 98.8% yes
- 5. 10 April 1938: Unification with Austria; Result: Germany 99.01% yes, Austria 99.73% yes
- 6. 2 December 1938: Elections for the people of the Sudetenland; Result: 98.78% yes
- With the Sudeten German supplementary election of 4 December 1938, the residents of the Sudetenland were allowed to vote for their Reichstag representatives after this area was "brought home" as a result of the Munich Agreement of 29 September 1938.
