862.00/2509: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:25 a.m.]
105. Election results up to 5 o’clock this morning constituting substantially complete returns give following approximate results in round figures:
35,000,000 votes cast by eligible electorate of 43,000,000.
Approximate popular votes:
| Social Democrats | 8,600,000 |
| National Socialists (Hitler, Fascist) | 6,400,000 |
| Center and Bavarian Peoples Party combined | 5,200,000 |
| Communist | 4,600,000 |
| Nationalists (Hugenberg) | 2,500,000 |
| Peoples Party | 1,600,000 |
| Economic Party | 1,400,000 |
| State Party (former Democratic Party) | 1,300,000 |
The foregoing translated into Reichstag seats gives, respectively: 143, 107, 87, 76, 41, 26, 23, 22. Forty-two seats are divided among six additional small groups.
Popular interest in election was keen as evidenced by fact that the largest percentage of electorate (approximately 82 percent) since formation of republic went to polls. As a result Reichstag deputies will be increased from 491 to 573. [Paraphrase.] The first strong impression from the election is that the predominant factors were disgust and recklessness. The enormous gains made by the Hitler supporters and the Communists indicate this. The Hitler vote, which in 1928 was 800,000, reached 6,400,000 yesterday resulting in an increase in Reichstag seats from 12 to 107. This is especially significant and is an indication that a multitude of voters are so disgusted at the failure of both the coalition of moderate parties and the Social Democrats to run the government machinery smoothly and to relieve the economic depression that they are ready to try anything else for a change, even giving their support to a party whose leaders and promises are irresponsible. [End paraphrase.]