| Original caption: “Dr. Josef Goebbels, the National Socialists’ Propaganda Chief for the Upcoming Presidential Election.” Minister of Propaganda Josef Goebbels (October 29, 1897 – May 1, 1945) smiles outside the Alte Reichskanzlei (“Old Reichchancellory”) of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP; “National Socialist German Workers Party”) after announcing that Adolf Hitler would be the Nazi candidate for President. At the time, it was the only Reichskanzlei; Hitler would build a new modern facility, the Neue Reichskanzlei (“New Reichchancellory”) in 1938. Nazi Führer (“Party Leader”) Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was hesitant to run given incumbent President Paul von Hindenburg’s (October 2, 1847 – 2 August 2, 1934) popularity and the fact that the NSDAP was still not the biggest party in the Reichstag. Furthermore, Hitler was not technically allowed to run as he lacked German citizenship, which was rectified upon his appointment to a post in the civil service of Braunschweig on February 26. However, the Nazis were rapidly growing in popularity throughout late 1931, and Hitler was able to persuade industrialists that Nazism was compatible with capitalism. The Nazi candidate was meant to be announced on February 3 at a meeting of the Gauleiters, but the party was still undecided. Joseph Goebbels supported a Hitler candidacy while Gregor Strasser (May 31, 1892 – June 30, 1934) felt it would be dangerous as he could not defeat Hindenburg. At a party rally on February 22, NSDAP member Goebbels revealed that Hitler would run in the race. The military veterans’ party Stahlhelm’s choice – Theodor Duesterberg (October 19, 1875 – November 4, 1950) – was announced later that day, overshadowed by Hitler’s candidacy. Presidential elections were held in Germany on March 13, 1932, with a runoff on April 10. Independent incumbent Paul von Hindenburg won a 2nd 7-year term against Adolf Hitler of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Communist Party (KPD) leader Ernst Thälmann (April 16, 1886 – August 18, 1944) also ran and received more than 10 percent of the vote in the runoff. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2283.jpg |
| Image Size | 57.28 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 542 x 800 |
| Photographer | Georg Pahl |
| Photographer Title | Aktuelle-Bilder-Centrale |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 1, 1932 |
| Location | Alte Reichskanzlei |
| City | Berlin |
| State or Province | Berlin |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | Bundesarchiv |
| Record Number | 102-13168 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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