Adolf Hitler

 

Adolf Hitler 

Content: 

Family

Childhood

Adulthood

World-War 1

Politics

Prison

Rebuilding the Nazi Party

Nazi Germany

World War II

Path to defeat

The Holocaust

Personal life

Legacy

 Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was a politician from Austria who became the ruler of Germany in 1933. He was the leader of the Nazi Party and held the position of Chancellor and later called himself "Führer und Reichskanzler." He started a big war in Europe, known as World War II, by attacking Poland in 1939. During the war, he was very involved in military actions and was responsible for the terrible event called the Holocaust, where about six million Jewish people and many others lost their lives. In the end, he committed suicide in 1945.

Hitler was born in a place called Braunau am Inn in a country called Austria-Hungary. He grew up near a town called Linz. Later, in the early 1900s, he moved to a city called Vienna and then to Germany in 1913. During World War I, he was in the German Army and received awards for his service.

In 1919, he joined a group called the German Workers' Party (DAP), which later became the Nazi Party. He became the leader of the Nazi Party in 1921. In 1923, he tried to take control of the government in a failed attempt in a city called Munich. As a result, he was sent to prison for five years.

While in jail, Hitler wrote a book about his life and ideas called "My Struggle." After he was released from prison in 1924, he gained a lot of support by criticizing the Treaty of Versailles and promoting ideas about uniting all German-speaking people, hatred towards Jewish people, and being against communism. He was very good at speaking and used Nazi propaganda to spread his beliefs. He often said that international capitalism and communism were part of a conspiracy led by Jewish people.

In November 1932, the Nazi Party had the most seats in the German Reichstag, but they didn't have enough seats to be in control completely. No party could make a strong group in support of a chancellor candidate.

Then, the former chancellor Franz von Papen and other conservative leaders convinced President Paul von Hindenburg to make Hitler the chancellor on 30 January 1933. Soon after, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act of 1933, which allowed Hitler to turn Germany into Nazi Germany, where only one party had power, and it was based on the ideas of Nazism, which were total control and leadership by one person.

On 2 August 1934, Hindenburg died, and Hitler took his place as the leader of the country. Hitler wanted to get rid of Jews from Germany and create a new order to fight against what he thought was an unfair international system dominated by Britain and France after World War I.

In the first six years of his rule, Hitler brought the country out of a severe economic downturn known as the Great Depression. He also got rid of the limitations imposed on Germany after World War I and took over lands where many Germans lived, which made many people support him at the beginning.

Hitler wanted more land for the German people in Eastern Europe, and his aggressive actions caused World War II in Europe. He built up Germany's military and attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, which made Britain and France start a war against Germany. Later, in June 1941, he ordered an attack on the Soviet Union, and in December 1941, he declared war on the United States.

During the war, Germany and its allies controlled much of Europe and North Africa, but over time, they lost those territories. In 1945, the Allied armies defeated the German army. Hitler got married to Eva Braun in April 1945, but they both committed suicide two days later to avoid being captured by the Soviet Red Army.

Hitler was a very evil leader, according to the historian Ian Kershaw. Under his leadership and racist beliefs, the Nazi regime caused the genocide of about six million Jews and many other people they saw as inferior. They were also responsible for the deaths of around 19.3 million civilians and prisoners of war. The overall casualties of the war, including soldiers and civilians, were the highest in history, with an unprecedented number of civilian deaths.

 

Family

Long ago, there was a man named Hitler. His father, Alois Hitler, was born to a woman named Maria Anna Schicklgruber, but the record didn't say who his real father was. So, he carried his mother's last name, "Schicklgruber." Later, in 1842, a man named Johann Georg Hiedler married Alois's mother. Alois grew up with Johann's brother, Johann Nepomuk Hiedler's family.

When Alois was a grown-up, a priest made him legitimate by adding Johann Georg Hiedler's name as his father in the baptismal record. From then on, he used the name "Hitler," though sometimes it was spelled 'Hiedler', 'Hüttler', or 'Huettler'. This name likely came from the German word "Hütte," which means "hut," suggesting that his ancestors might have lived in a hut.

Some people suggested that Alois's mother worked for a Jewish family, and their son Leopold Frankenberger might be Alois's real father. However, there's no evidence of a Leopold Frankenberger in that area during that time, and Jews weren't allowed to live there at that time, so historians don't believe this claim.

 

Childhood

Adolf Hitler was born in 1889 in Austria-Hungary (now Austria) to his parents Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl. He had several siblings, but sadly three of them died when they were babies. The family moved around different places, and Hitler went to a primary school in Fischlham.

As he grew older, he had conflicts with his strict father and teachers. His father wanted him to work in the customs bureau, but Hitler had dreams of becoming an artist. He didn't do well in school on purpose to convince his father to let him follow his passion.

Hitler developed German nationalist ideas and disliked the Habsburg monarchy that ruled over a diverse empire. He and his friends showed loyalty to Germany and not Austria.

When his father died suddenly in 1903, Hitler's school performance got worse, and his mother allowed him to leave school. He then attended another school in Steyr, where he did better, but he didn't have clear plans for his future career.

 

Adulthood

In 1907, when Adolf Hitler was 18 years old, he left his hometown of Linz and went to Vienna to study fine art. He used money from orphan benefits and support from his mother to finance his studies. However, he faced rejection twice when he applied to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. The director suggested he try the School of Architecture, but he couldn't get in because he didn't finish high school.

Unfortunately, in December 1907, Hitler's mother passed away from breast cancer, leaving him without much support. By 1909, he ran out of money and had to live in homeless shelters and dorms for men. To make a living, he did odd jobs and sold watercolor paintings of Vienna's landmarks. During this time, he developed a strong interest in architecture and music and became a fan of the composer Wagner.

In Vienna, Hitler was exposed to racist ideas, as some politicians used anti-Semitic and nationalist views to gain support. He was influenced by figures who promoted German nationalism and held anti-Semitic beliefs. He read newspapers and writings from various philosophers and thinkers, which may have shaped his ideas.

The exact origins of Hitler's anti-Semitism are debated among historians. Some say he was already anti-Semitic when he lived in Linz, while others believe it developed later, after Germany's defeat in World War I.

In 1913, Hitler received his father's inheritance and moved to Munich, Germany. He was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army but was deemed unfit for service and returned to Munich. He claimed he didn't want to serve the Habsburg Empire because of its diverse army and his belief that it would collapse soon.

 

World-War 1

In 1914, when World War I started, Hitler lived in Munich. He joined the Bavarian Army, even though he was Austrian. This was probably a mistake because he should have been sent back to Austria. During the war, he worked as a messenger in France and Belgium, mostly away from the dangerous front lines. He received medals for bravery and got injured by a shell explosion.

While at the army headquarters, Hitler continued his passion for drawing and writing. In 1917, he got wounded again but returned to his regiment after recovering. He fought in more battles and received more awards. In 1918, he was temporarily blinded by a gas attack and learned about Germany's defeat. This made him very upset and bitter.

Hitler believed in German pride and blamed others, like Jews and politicians, for Germany's loss in the war. The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh conditions on Germany, which made many Germans feel humiliated and angry. Hitler used these feelings and the country's problems after the war to gain political support.

 

Politics

After World War I, Hitler went back to Munich. He didn't have much education or job opportunities, so he stayed in the army. In 1919, he became an intelligence agent for the army and was assigned to influence other soldiers and infiltrate a political party called the German Workers' Party.

At a meeting of this party, Hitler impressed its leader with his speaking skills, and he was given a pamphlet with anti-Semitic and nationalist ideas. He joined the party as member 555, even though they pretended to have more members than they actually did.

In the party, Hitler met Dietrich Eckart, who became his mentor and introduced him to influential people in Munich. The party changed its name to the Nazi Party, and Hitler designed its swastika banner.

Hitler left the army in 1920 and started working full-time for the party. He became known for his passionate speeches against the Treaty of Versailles, rival politicians, Marxists, and Jews.

In 1921, there was a disagreement within the Nazi Party, and Hitler briefly resigned. But he rejoined on the condition that he would become the party chairman, and the headquarters would remain in Munich. He gained absolute power in the party after facing some opposition.

His speeches gained popularity as he blamed scapegoats for people's problems. He had a magnetic presence and was skilled at manipulating crowds during his public speaking.

Some of his early followers included Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring, and Ernst Röhm, who led the paramilitary organization known as the SA or "Stormtroopers." Hitler was influenced by a group that believed in a Jewish conspiracy financed by wealthy industrialists.

The Nazi Party's program was laid out in a 25-point plan, which included nationalist, anti-Treaty of Versailles, anti-capitalist, and socialist ideas, but the most important aspect for Hitler was its strong anti-Semitic stance. He used the program to attract people to the party through propaganda.

 

Prison

In 1923, Hitler tried to take over the government in Germany with the help of General Ludendorff. They were inspired by how Mussolini took control in Italy. Hitler wanted to lead a coup in Bavaria and then challenge the government in Berlin. But the people they asked for support wanted a different kind of leadership.

On November 8, 1923, Hitler and his followers stormed a meeting in a beer hall and declared a new government. However, the people they asked for support withdrew, and the coup failed. Some people were killed, and Hitler was arrested and put on trial.

He was sentenced to prison but was released after one year. While in prison, he wrote a book called "Mein Kampf," where he shared his ideas about transforming German society based on race and expressed hatred towards Jews.

The book became popular, and Hitler's influence grew. Before he could be released on parole, the government tried to deport him, but he renounced his Austrian citizenship to avoid that.

 

Rebuilding the Nazi Party

Before Hitler was released from prison, Germany was becoming less confrontational in politics, and the economy was improving, which made it harder for him to cause trouble. After a failed attempt to seize power, Hitler promised to respect the government's authority and seek political power through democratic means. The Nazi Party was temporarily banned but later allowed to operate again. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, Germany suffered, and Hitler and the Nazis used this to gain support by promising to fix the economy.

During the 1930 elections, the Nazi Party gained significant support and became the second-largest party in parliament. Hitler convinced people, including influential industrialists, that he would be good for the country. He also used airplanes for campaigning, which was a new and effective tactic.

In 1932, Hitler ran for president but lost to Hindenburg. However, he gained enough influence to be appointed as chancellor later that year. Hitler formed a coalition government with another party. On January 30, 1933, Hitler became chancellor, and he secured important ministerial positions to control the police in Germany.

Reichstag fire and March elections

When Hitler became the chancellor, he faced opposition from other political parties. To gain more power, he asked the president, Hindenburg, to dissolve the Reichstag (the German parliament) and hold new elections. A fire broke out in the Reichstag building on February 27, 1933. The Nazis blamed a communist named Marinus van der Lubbe for it. Many historians now believe that van der Lubbe acted alone.

In response to the fire, Hitler convinced Hindenburg to sign the Reichstag Fire Decree, which took away people's basic rights and allowed them to be detained without trial. The Nazi Party used violence and anti-communist propaganda to influence the election. In the election held on March 6, 1933, the Nazi Party won 43.9% of the votes but didn't get a majority. So, they had to form a coalition government with another party called DNVP.

Day of Potsdam and the Enabling Act

In 1933, a new government was formed in Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, who was part of the Nazi movement. They wanted to have complete control even though they didn't have the majority in parliament. So, they passed a law called the Enabling Act, which allowed Hitler's cabinet to make laws without the parliament's approval for four years. To ensure the Act passed, they arrested the Communist deputies and prevented some Social Democrats from attending the vote. The Enabling Act was approved, giving Hitler's government almost unlimited power, and turning the country into a dictatorship.

Dictatorship

In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler and his allies gained complete control over the government in Germany. They started to suppress any opposition. The Social Democratic Party was banned, and the trade unions were also dissolved, with their leaders arrested and some sent to concentration camps. Hitler formed a new organization to represent workers, administrators, and company owners, reflecting the concept of Nazism.

By the end of June, all other political parties were forced to disband, and the Nazi Party became the only legal party in Germany. The SA, a powerful group supporting Hitler, demanded more power, which worried some leaders. In response, Hitler purged the SA leadership in the "Night of the Long Knives," arresting and killing many of his adversaries.

When the President of Germany, Hindenburg, died, Hitler merged the presidency with the chancellorship, making himself the head of state and government, with the title of Führer. This move eliminated any legal way to remove him from power. He also became the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Hitler used blackmail to gain control over the military and made sure his dictatorship appeared legal by passing decrees based on existing laws. Elections were held, but the choices were heavily manipulated to ensure the Nazis' victory, with severe consequences for those who opposed or didn't support them.

 

Nazi Germany

In the early 1930s, Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany. He appointed Hjalmar Schacht to manage the economy and prepare for war. To fund the military and infrastructure projects, the government printed money and took assets from arrested people, including Jews.

Under Hitler's rule, unemployment decreased, and many public works were built. However, wages were low, and the cost of living increased. The average work week became longer as the country geared up for war.

Hitler also sponsored large-scale architecture projects, and despite threats of boycott, Germany hosted the 1936 Olympics.

In terms of foreign policy, Hitler aimed to conquer land in the East and make it German. He wanted to expand German influence and military power. Germany left the League of Nations and ignored the Treaty of Versailles, rearming and occupying the Rhineland.

Hitler tried to form alliances with other countries but ended up making agreements with Italy and Japan. He planned for war and took control of foreign policy and the military.

Overall, Hitler's government focused on military expansion and aggressive foreign policy, leading to the outbreak of World War II.

 

World War 2

In the past, Germany had a friendly alliance with China, but Hitler decided to join forces with Japan, led by a pro-Japanese minister. This move led to Germany supporting Japan's control of Manchuria and giving up their claims to Pacific colonies previously held by Japan. China reacted by cutting off economic ties with Germany.

Next, Hitler wanted to unite Austria with Nazi Germany, which he achieved in what was called the Anschluss. After that, he turned his attention to a region in Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland, where many ethnic Germans lived. He encouraged the Sudeten German Party to demand more rights, which became an excuse for Germany to take military action against Czechoslovakia. However, due to pressure from France and Britain, Germany had to postpone its invasion plans.

In September 1938, a meeting in Munich resulted in the Munich Agreement, where Germany gained control of the Sudetenland. British Prime Minister Chamberlain saw this as bringing peace, but Hitler was disappointed because he wanted a war in 1938. The summit also helped Hitler gain recognition and be named Time magazine's Man of the Year.

The economic crisis caused by rearmament forced Hitler to cut military spending. To cope, he called for increased foreign trade to get the resources needed for weapons.

In March 1939, Slovakia declared independence under German protection, and the next day, Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia, turning it into a German protectorate.

 

Start of World War 2

In 1939, Hitler thought that Britain was the main enemy to defeat, and he believed Poland's destruction was necessary for his plans. He wanted to secure the eastern area and take more land for Germany. Hitler was angry when Britain promised to protect Poland's independence, so he decided to attack Poland. He hoped Britain and France would not intervene, but they declared war on Germany when it invaded Poland. Hitler also made a secret deal with the Soviet Union to divide Poland between them.

After conquering Poland, there was a period of little action called the "Phoney War." Hitler ordered some areas to be Germanized, while others wanted to remove certain groups of people. In 1940, Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and Italy joined them. The Battle of Britain was fought, but Germany couldn't defeat the British Royal Air Force. Later, the Axis powers were formed with Japan, Germany, and Italy signing the Tripartite Pact. Hitler also prepared to invade the Soviet Union while deploying forces to North Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East.

 

Path to defeat

During World War II, on June 22, 1941, over three million Axis troops attacked the Soviet Union, breaking a pact they had made with the Soviets. This attack was called Operation Barbarossa and aimed to conquer the Soviet Union for its resources and to use it as a base for further aggression against other countries. Hitler, the German leader, believed that a successful invasion would force Britain to surrender. The invasion covered a vast area, including the Baltic republics, Belarus, and West Ukraine.

As the war continued, Hitler's military decisions became increasingly erratic. In 1941, he ordered a pause in the advance towards Moscow, which allowed the Soviet Red Army to regroup and contributed to the failure of the Moscow offensive. In 1942, German forces faced defeats in battles like El Alamein and Stalingrad. Hitler's interference in military planning and distrust of his commanders led to disastrous outcomes.

As the Allies advanced, Hitler's grip on power weakened. Several assassination attempts were made against him, and he was even put on a list of war criminals by the United Nations War Crimes Commission. In the final stages of the war, with Germany in ruins, Hitler refused to surrender and ordered the destruction of German infrastructure. By April 1945, the Red Army was closing in on Berlin, and Hitler realized the inevitable defeat. He married Eva Braun and, on April 30, 1945, he committed suicide, taking cyanide and shooting himself. Berlin surrendered on May 2, 1945, and Hitler's death was officially confirmed later.

 

The Holocaust

The leader of Germany at that time was Adolf Hitler, who believed that Jewish people were the enemy and wanted to expand Germany's territory. He planned to defeat Poland and the Soviet Union and then either kill or remove Jews and other people he considered undesirable.

The Holocaust was organized by two men named Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich. They had a meeting called the Wannsee Conference where they planned the systematic extermination of Jewish people. Though there is no direct evidence of Hitler ordering the killings, his speeches and writings show that he was behind it.

The Nazis, led by the SS, were responsible for the deaths of around 11 million innocent people, including about 6 million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Romani people. They were killed in concentration camps and through mass executions. Many died in gas chambers or from starvation while being forced to work as slaves.

Apart from Jews, the Nazis also targeted others, like Polish civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, political opponents, disabled individuals, and various religious groups. Hitler also introduced discriminatory laws to segregate and harm non-Aryans.

 

Overall, Hitler's policies caused the deaths of millions of innocent people in one of the most horrifying events in history. Hitler was the ruler of the Nazi Party and had all the power. He believed that everyone should obey him without question, like a pyramid with him at the top. He liked to create conflicts among his subordinates to make himself more powerful. He controlled Germany's actions during World War II more than any other leader. He made important decisions about the military and strategy. Some of his risky moves worked, but others failed. As the war went on, he became disconnected from reality and made slow decisions. Even when Germany was losing, he refused to consider surrender. The military didn't challenge him and followed his orders.

 

Personal life

Hitler was a leader known for his dedication to his political mission and country. He presented himself as a single man focused entirely on his goals. However, he had a lover named Eva Braun whom he married just before they both committed suicide.

In his early life, Hitler was born to a Catholic mother and an anti-religious father. He distanced himself from organized religion and was critical of Christianity, favoring other beliefs like Japanese religious beliefs or Islam. He saw the church as a conservative influence that could serve his political purposes, but privately, he disliked Christianity.

Hitler's health was troubled, and he suffered from various illnesses, including irritable bowel syndrome, skin lesions, and possibly Parkinson's disease. He adopted a vegetarian diet in the 1930s and used drugs like amphetamine, opiates, and cocaine, which may have contributed to his erratic behavior.

Overall, Hitler was a complex figure with personal struggles and controversial beliefs.

 

Legacy

When Hitler died by suicide, people felt like a bad magic spell was broken. By that time, most Germans didn't support him anymore, and not many of them were sad about his death. Germany was in ruins and the rest of Europe suffered too because of Hitler's actions, including a devastating world war.

Hitler was considered a very evil person, and his policies caused immense suffering, resulting in the deaths of millions of people. Many people call the Nazi regime evil, and promoting Nazism or denying the Holocaust is illegal in many countries.

Some historians saw Hitler as a powerful and influential figure in history, but also a cruel and terrible conqueror. After his defeat, the world entered the Cold War between the Western countries and the Soviet Union.

One historian even argues that without Hitler, Israel wouldn't exist, and the decolonization of former European colonies would have been delayed. Hitler's impact on the world was significant and happened in a short period, similar to only a few other historical figures like Alexander the Great.