Nazi Party (NSDAP)

On 24 February 1920, in Munich’s Hofbräuhaus, the German Workers’ Party took the name NSDAP and adopted a 25-point programme combining nationalism, antisemitism and social slogans. From 1921 Hitler was its sole leader. After the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 the party was rebuilt as a movement that would take power by legal means.

During the Depression its vote leapt from 18 per cent in 1930 to 37 per cent in July 1932, making it the largest party in the Reichstag. After Hitler became chancellor in January 1933 the other parties were dissolved or banned. With the SA, the SS and the Hitler Youth, the Nazi Party permeated the whole state; by 1945 it had about 8.5 million members. The Allies banned it in October 1945.