When I toured the concentration camp at Dachau some years ago, the tour guide was very clear on this point: people did elect the Nazis.
In 1932, the Nazi party became the largest party in the German parliament, with 37.3% of the vote. It is true that it was not mandatory to make Hitler chancellor, but as the head of the largest party, it would have been expected.
The Nazi party received massive support in democratic elections, where the expectation of the voters would have been that if the Nazi party gained enough seats, Hitler would become chancellor.
This is an important point to me, as it shows that it is possible for democratic elections to result in a fascist government that dismantles democracy. Ignoring this historical example prevents us from applying the lesson to new situations.
When I toured the concentration camp at Dachau some years ago, the tour guide was very clear on this point: people did elect the Nazis.
In 1932, the Nazi party became the largest party in the German parliament, with 37.3% of the vote. It is true that it was not mandatory to make Hitler chancellor, but as the head of the largest party, it would have been expected.
The Nazi party received massive support in democratic elections, where the expectation of the voters would have been that if the Nazi party gained enough seats, Hitler would become chancellor.
This is an important point to me, as it shows that it is possible for democratic elections to result in a fascist government that dismantles democracy. Ignoring this historical example prevents us from applying the lesson to new situations.