Warlords
Under scrutiny
Political leadership
Hitler |
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Until the war turned against Germany in 1942, Hitler was arguably the most effective political leader of the 20th century. He took the Nazi party from 800,000 votes and 12 seats in the Reichstag in 1928 to 6.5 million votes and 107 seats in 1930. By 1932, the Nazis had 230 seats. While never winning a majority in an election, Hitler used plebiscites to consolidate his position and, by the outbreak of war, had the backing of an undoubted majority of the German population. Such was his support among his followers that some of those he had murdered during the 'Night of the Long Knives' against potential Nazi rivals in 1934 went to their deaths shouting 'Heil Hitler!' in their mistaken belief that they were victims of a coup against Hitler.
