Final answer:
Between 1928 and 1932, the Nazi Party gained seats in the German Reichstag, largely due to the widespread economic and political instability caused by the Great Depression. Other parties, particularly the moderate ones, lost seats as a result. Extreme parties, with the Nazis at the forefront, offered radical solutions which resonated with the disillusioned and suffering population.
Step-by-step explanation:
- Between 1928 and 1932 in Germany, the Great Depression facilitated a significant change in the political landscape, with the Nazi Party and the Communist Party (KPD) gaining seats while moderate parties diminished. The economic turmoil, hyperinflation, the unpopularity of the Treaty of Versailles, and the perceived failure of the Weimar government led to increased support for extremist parties. The Nazi promises of economic recovery, national pride restoration, and clear identification of scapegoats appealed to the desperate population, yielding an electoral breakthrough in 1930 and a further increase in 1932.
- The Weimar Republic faced a multitude of problems including political fragmentation and resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles. These issues, compounded by the Great Depression, made the message of the Nazi Party more appealing. The proportional representation system of the Weimar Republic's Reichstag, which included numerous parties across the political spectrum, often led to a lack of a stable governing majority, thereby amplifying the voices of extremist parties like the Nazis.
- Ultimately, this period marked the rise of the Nazis from a fringe party to the largest party in the Reichstag by 1932, a development which set the stage for their eventual consolidation of power under Adolf Hitler.