allowed unlimited visitors, special food and he had the company of fellow Nazis also in prison. During this time, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). He also realised that the only way to get to power was through democratic elections. The first attempt was in the 1928 elections, but the Nazi Party failed miserably, dropping from 103 seats in 1924 to 73 seats in the Reichstag elections of 1928. Hitler’s first real attempt was during the middle of The Great Depression. Over three million Germans were unemployed, and the Nazi Party called an election in September 1930. In a vigorous campaign they held hundreds of rallies across the country, attacking the weaknessesof other parties. The Nazis grasped the idea that the system had failed and they promised a revitalisation of will and a new beginning.The Nazis were pleased with the result of the election. Even though they had not come to power, they had increased their representation in the Reichstag to 107 seats. Over thirty-five million Germans had voted for the Nazis, which had now made them the second largest party in parliament. In 1932 Hindenburg’s seven year term as President came to a close. The then Chancellor Bruning tried to have Hindenburg’s presidency continued for another two years, but the Nazis and the Nationalists opposed the idea. So Hindenburg, who was now eighty-four, once again stood for President. Hitler had also announced his intention to run for the presidency. The Nazi Party membership now stood at 450 000 and a vigorous election campaign was started by Dr Joseph Goebbels. In an unwavering three-week campaign, the party organised 300 meetings a day across Germany. Hindenburg, however, did not personally attend his meetings; Bruning did so on his behalf. The voting which took place on the 14th of March was so close that no party received an absolute majority. Because of this a second round of voting was conducted on the 10th of April. T...
