The 1938 German parliamentary election and referendum was a pivotal moment in the establishment of Adolf Hitler's totalitarian regime. The vote took place against a backdrop of heightened propaganda efforts from the Nazi Party, which sought to legitimize its rule and recent actions, particularly the annexation of Austria. The election was characterized by the imposition of a single candidate list, which meant that the public was effectively denied the opportunity to choose from multiple political perspectives. Each candidate was a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), ensuring that the election would affirm the party's grip on power.

The legitimacy of this election was further challenged by the political climate in Germany at the time, characterized by intense repression of dissent and a state-controlled media narrative that painted the Nazi Party's actions as necessary for national unity and prosperity. Voter turnout was presented as overwhelmingly positive, with official sources claiming a significant majority endorsed the party's direction. However, the lack of alternative choices and the atmosphere of fear permeating society raised questions about the authenticity of this mandate.

In this context, the referendum also sought to garner public support for the annexation of Austria, which had been seamlessly integrated into the Third Reich earlier that year. This event represented not just a vote, but a reinforcement of the Nazi ideology that underscored the party's expansionist aims and the notion of a Greater Germany. As such, it symbolized the regime's strategy of using democratic processes to disguise totalitarian aims, contributing to the chilling atmosphere that would ripple across Europe in the following years.