Who Voted for Hitler in 1933? Diaries Reveal Life Under Nazi Rule
The 1933 Mandate: Voices Behind Hitler’s Rise
The 1933 Reichstag election cemented Adolf Hitler’s power with 99.74% approval in manipulated polls. Diaries from this era expose a fractured society: working-class youth seeking opportunity, business owners fearing marginalization, and Jewish families stripped of rights. Ingatila, a 22-year-old nursery worker, wrote of Olympic pride and labor service dreams, reflecting how Nazi propaganda exploited national events to build loyalty. Conversely, Jewish diarist Freddy Zulitz documented his citizenship revocation despite being a decorated WWI officer.
Economic Desperation and Nationalist Fervor
Many voters saw Nazism as economic salvation. Ingatila’s entries reveal working-class struggles: "I’ve rarely been so indecisive... It’s all about earning money now." Her desire to join the Reich Labor Service—a Nazi initiative promoting "community over self"—highlighted how job programs swayed support. Meanwhile, innkeeper Matias Meisen, a former Democrat, felt trapped: "Everyone in a brown shirt is like a warden... I want it to be over." His carnival celebrations underscored a populace escaping into distraction.
Systematic Persecution of Jewish Citizens
The Nuremberg Laws (1935) codified Jewish exclusion. Freddy Zulitz’s wife, Louisa, described voting under surveillance: "There is no longer any such thing as ballot secrecy." Their daughter Gizela, labeled a "mixed race first degree," foresaw her fate at 16: "Maybe in a year’s time I’ll already be dead... not of natural causes." After Kristallnacht (1938), Willy Kron recorded synagogue destruction and arrests: "Do our children have to watch their fathers behave like animals?"
Escalation to War: Compliance and Complicity
Olympic Deception and Military Buildup
The 1936 Berlin Olympics masked Nazi aggression. Anti-Semitic signs temporarily vanished as Germany feigned cosmopolitanism. Diarist entries note troops entering the demilitarized Rhineland that March, with Louisa Zulitz admitting: "I was delighted by Hitler’s greatness." Yet militarization accelerated. Matias Meisen observed barracks construction in Vit: "I hope everyone can see what this is all about."
Annexations and the Illusion of Peace
Hitler’s 1938 annexation of Austria (Anschluss) thrilled supporters like Nazi official Egon Urvine: "It’s the fulfillment of my old German dream." Urvine, who named his son "Falkart" to evoke toughness, embraced racial pseudoscience, studying Hans Günther’s Racial Science of the German People. Jewish diarist Willy Kron saw through the charade, fleeing to Palestine only to be rejected by a kibbutz. His despair permeates his writing: "With that, a dream goes out of my life."
The Unraveling: War, Betrayal, and Survival
Stolen Homes and Broken Bonds
Aryanization policies seized Jewish property. In 1938, the Zulitz family lost their home: "Jews are forbidden to own property... Now our house is gone." Social isolation followed. Louisa documented a friend’s abandonment: "As a civil servant, it’s impossible for me [to visit you]." Forced renaming compounded humiliation—Freddy became "Israel Zulitz."
Wartime Realities and Moral Dissonance
Egon Urvine’s 1938 diary glorifies Hitler’s Sudetenland gamble: "When the Führer stood firm, others had to give in." Yet his daughter Maria’s relief—"Good Lord, we praise you... because there’s no war"—contrasts with Gizela Zulitz’s air raid drills. By 1939, Urvine faced mobilization, writing to his infant son: "War may be upon us." Jewish families like the Krons celebrated Hanukkah in shadows, praying for escape.
Key Diary Insights on Nazi Society
| Diarist | Background | Core Revelation |
|---|---|---|
| Ingatila | Working-class | Labor service idealism |
| Matias Meisen | Innkeeper | Political disillusionment |
| Freddy Zulitz | Jewish veteran | Citizenship betrayal |
| Egon Urvine | Nazi official | Racial ideology adherence |
Why These Diaries Matter Today
These accounts reveal three critical truths: Economic anxiety enabled authoritarianism, state-sponsored dehumanization preceded genocide, and ordinary choices fueled collective tragedy. As Willy Kron penned in 1937: "Like this ship, life slowly pulls you toward its destination. You let yourself be carried."
Actionable Takeaways
- Analyze primary sources: Contrast perpetrator/victim perspectives to understand complicity.
- Identify propaganda tactics: Note how Nazis used events (Olympics) to mask aggression.
- Study exclusionary laws: Trace how rights erasure (Nuremberg Laws) enabled violence.
Recommended Resources
- The Third Reich Trilogy by Richard J. Evans: Details Nazi systemic mechanisms.
- Jewish Virtual Library Archives: Original Holocaust diaries.
- Yad Vashem’s Online Database: Testimonies from survivors like Gizela Zulitz.
"We were sitting around the table when the police called... There’s a glimmer of hope in all three of our hearts."
— Louisa Zulitz, 1936
Discussion Prompt: Which diary entry most challenges your view of pre-war Germany? Share your analysis below.
