1874 German federal election

Federal elections were held in Germany on 10 January 1874. The National Liberal Party remained the largest party in the Reichstag, with 147 of the 397 seats. Voter turnout was 61.2%.

1874 German federal election

10 January 1874 (1874-01-10)
All 397 seats in the Reichstag 199 seats needed for a majority
Registered	8,523,446 11.33%
Turnout	5,219,830 (61.24%) 10.23pp
First party Second party Third party   DFP Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Hermann von Mallinckrodt Party NlP Centre DFP Leader since 1867 1870 Last election 28.97%, 117 seats 18.21%, 58 seats 9.04%, 45 seats Seats won 147 91 48 Seat change 30 33 3 Popular vote 1,394,250 1,438,792 458,133 Percentage 26.86% 27.72% 8.83% Swing 2.11pp 9.51pp 0.21pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Con PPP Leader Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor Party DRP Conservatives Polish Party Last election 8.83%, 37 seats 13.51%, 56 seats 4.54%, 13 seats Seats won 32 21 14 Seat change 5 35 1 Popular vote 388,840 352,050 208,797 Percentage 7.49% 6.78% 4.02% Swing 1.34pp 6.73pp 0.52pp
Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Reichstag before election Eduard von Simson Independent President of the Reichstag after election Max von Forckenbeck NlP

Campaign

The Kulturkampf policies to suppress the political power of Catholicism in Germany were launched in 1873. However, the Catholic Centre Party saw its support double from the previous election.

Results

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Centre Party	1,438,792	27.72	+9.51	91	+33
	National Liberal Party	1,394,250	26.86	−2.11	147	+30
	German Progress Party	458,133	8.83	−0.21	48	+3
	German Reich Party	388,840	7.49	−1.34	32	−5
	Conservative Party	352,050	6.78	−6.73	21	−35
	Alsace-Lorraine parties	234,545	4.52	New	15	New
	Polish Party	208,797	4.02	−0.52	14	+1
	General German Workers' Association	179,250	3.45	+2.01	3	+3
	Social Democratic Workers' Party	171,873	3.31	+2.25	7	+6
	Imperial Liberal Party	98,072	1.89	−5.16	8	−25
	German-Hanoverian Party	73,436	1.41	−1.48	4	−3
	Independent liberals	69,905	1.35	−0.58	4	−1
	German People's Party	39,110	0.75	−0.01	1	0
	Independent conservatives	21,546	0.42	+0.04	1	0
	Danish Party	19,856	0.38	−0.16	1	0
	Schleswig-Holstein Particularist Liberals	13,945	0.27	+0.09	0	−2
	Old Liberals	8,937	0.17	−0.47	0	−2
	Others	18,806	0.36	+0.21	0	0
	Unknown	111	0.00	−0.02	0	0
Total		5,190,254	100.00	–	397	+15
Valid votes		5,190,254	99.43
Invalid/blank votes		29,576	0.57
Total votes		5,219,830	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		8,523,446	61.24
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Alsace-Lorraine

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Clericals	106,106	43.86	9	New
	Protesters	83,082	34.35	6	New
	Autonomists	45,357	18.75	0	New
	National Liberal Party	5,072	2.10	0	0
	Social Democratic Workers' Party	680	0.28	0	0
	Others	1,605	0.66	0	0
Total		241,902	100.00	15	New
Valid votes		241,902	99.08
Invalid/blank votes		2,252	0.92
Total votes		244,154	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		319,477	76.42
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Works cited

• Childers, Thomas (1983). The Nazi Voter: The Social Foundations of Fascism in Germany, 1919-1933. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0807815705.