History of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler is perhaps the most hated and reviled individual in all of world history, and for good reason. On the one hand, his efforts to seize control of his country, self-destructive political philosophies, and disastrous effect on the course of 20th century history helped to influence the artfully chaotic, interconnected world we live in today. Join the FBI as we examine the life, actions and impact of Adolf Hitler, stage by stage, on the world around him, during his life and beyond. History of Adolf Hitler
Early Life and Background of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich of Germany from 1933 till 1945, born on 20 April 1889, in Braunau am Inn, small town in Austro-Hungarian empire (now Austria). He was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl. His early life was defined by his troubled relationship with his dictatorial father and supreme loyalty to his tender-hearted mother. In his youth, Hitler had dreamt of becoming an artist, though such dreams were crushed by numerous rejections from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
Hitler's Time in Vienna and the Formation of His Ideology
Between 1908 and 1913, as he had after leaving home, Hitler lived a bohemian lifestyle in Vienna, one both mysterious and deeply marked by poverty, vagabondage and rootlessness. It was on the Medium circuit that so many of his radical ideas first took shape. His experiences during this time further radicalized Hitler into a primal hatred of Jews, Slavs, and communists, whom he held responsible for all his, and society’s, woes. Pushed by the rising nationalist and anti-Semitic discourse in Vienna, Hitler’s worldview mutated into a dangerous cocktail of racism, German nationalism and social Darwinism.
Hitler's Experience in World War I
World War I was the first episode that greatly affected Hitler. As a young socialist, he fought as a soldier in the conscripted German Army, experiencing the horrors of that same brutal trench warfare on the Western Front. He was subsequently wounded two times and decorated for high bravery. Germany’s defeat in 1918 personally crushed him. Like most of his compatriots, Hitler accepted the notion that Germany had not lost the First World War on the ground but rather had been “stabbed in the back” at home by traitors, especially Jews and communists. History of Adolf Hitler
The Rise of Adolf Hitler in German Politics
After the war, Hitler stayed in the army and was given the task of keeping tabs on political organizations in Munich. One such group, the German Workers’ Party, piqued his interest. Hitler joined it in 1919 and quickly gained prominence due to his oratory, charisma, and ability to channel public frustration — primarily over the Treaty of Versailles. Yet in an era of political disarray and economic turmoil, a lot of Germans were drawn to Hitler’s pledges to restore the country and bring its people together.
The Formation of the Nazi Party
In the wake of that defeat, in 1920, the German Workers’ Party changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party — what became known as the Nazi Party. Hitler, in fact, played a key role in designing its platform, which fused German nationalism with anti-Semitism, anti-communism, and extremist populist rhetoric. With the help of his Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess, he wrote stirring propaganda, held huge rallies, and inspired a legion of true believers, including his private army of thugs—the paramilitary “Brownshirts” (SA)—that terrorized critics into submission and carried out the party’s streetwork for the Fuhrer. History of Adolf Hitler
Hitler’s Path to Becoming Chancellor of Germany
Hitler’s initial coup attempt, the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, ended in humiliation and his imprisonment. It was during his time in prison that he authored Mein Kampf, describing the Aryan master race and his plan for Germany’s resurrection. After his release, Hitler sought to achieve power by constitutional means. The Great Depression hammered Germany, rendering Hitler’s pledges to restore economic stability and national pride all the more alluring. In 1933, with conservatives who expected to continue to control him, forced his hand, president Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor.
The Establishment of the Totalitarian Nazi Regime
Once in office, Hitler moved at breakneck speed to destroy Germany’s democracy. The Reichstag Fire of 1933 just necessitated his passage of the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act of 1933, putting him in possession of dictatorial powers. Political opponents were rounded up and imprisoned or killed, free speech disappeared and, like every other area of life, became dominated by the Nazis. In order to accomplish this, Hitler needed to establish a totalitarian police state built on fear, propaganda, and iron grip control over schooling, media, and culture. History of Adolf Hitler
Hitler’s Role in Starting World War II
Hitler’s expansionist policies were not merely the root cause for initiating World War II, rather acted as the direct cause by creating the conditions that led to this war. He clearly violated the Treaty of Versailles by remilitarizing Germany, and through the Anschluss incorporated Austria and a number of areas that were then a part of Czechoslovakia. His invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, was the tipping point that caused Britain and France to declare war. Hitler’s explicitly declared aim in the long run was to conquer enough territory in the East to colonize 250 million Germans and create a Reich that was completely dominated by the Aryan race.
Key Events During Hitler’s Reign
During Hitler’s reign, several significant events occurred:
- The Nuremberg Laws (1935): Stripped Jews of citizenship and basic rights.
- Kristallnacht (1938): A coordinated attack on Jewish businesses and synagogues.
- Expansion into Europe: Occupation of France, invasion of the Soviet Union.
- Operation Barbarossa (1941): A massive and ultimately disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union.
- D-Day (1944): Allied forces landed in Normandy, marking the beginning of the end for Hitler’s regime.
Hitler’s Ideologies: Racism, Anti-Semitism, and Expansionism
Racial purity and Aryan superiority were at the core of Hitler’s ideology. He was convinced that Jews, Roma, Slavs, and all other non-Aryan peoples were subhuman destroyers of civilization. His anti-Semitism as the impetus to radical action, exclusionary policy, violence and ultimately Holocaust. Expansionism, or Lebensraum (“living space”), became the shiny rationale for invading other countries to make space for Germans at the expense of other peoples.
The Holocaust and Crimes Against Humanity
The Holocaust was one of the darkest chapters in human history. Under Hitler’s Nazi regime, about six million Jews—two-thirds of the Jews in Europe—were systematically murdered, along with millions of others such as Roma, disabled people, Poles and Soviet POWs. Ghettos, labor camps & extermination camps such as Auschwitz were constructed by the Nazis to murder Jews in this genocide on an industrial scale. History of Adolf Hitler
The Fall of Adolf Hitler and the End of World War II
By 1945, Hitler’s empire was crumbling. Allied forces were advancing from the west, and Soviet forces were closing in from the east. Refusing to surrender, Hitler retreated to his underground bunker in Berlin. As Soviet troops entered the city, Hitler married Eva Braun and, shortly after, they both committed suicide on April 30, 1945. Germany surrendered days later, ending World War II in Europe.
Hitler's Death and Its Impact on the World
Hitler’s death heralded the death not just of the Nazi regime, but of one world order and the birth of another. Europe was left in ruins, and the US and USSR would emerge as the two global superpowers. The evil of what Hitler did brought about the formation of the United Nations and international legal structure around the world that centered in and around human rights and not allowing genocides to happen again. History of Adolf Hitler
Legacy and Controversy: How History Views Hitler Today
Hitler, of course, was the bad guy in World War II. His name is now synonymous with genocide, racism and destruction. Historians are still arguing over what enabled him to attain such power and what lessons can be learned. Looking back on his abhorrent actions is key to making sure we don’t repeat history
Lessons Learned from the Hitler Era
The Lessons of the Age of Hitler protect us from the temptation to forget how deeply dangerous unchecked power, blind nationalism and hatred truly are. It urges members to protect and preserve our democratic institutions, promote an atmosphere of tolerance and civility, fight hatred and bigotry, and work to create a safer world. Commemoration and instruction are the best weapons we have to prevent these catastrophes and the next wave of disasters we can’t allow to occur again. History of Adolf Hitler
Customer FAQs
Q1: How did Hitler come to power legally?
Through a combination of political deals, mass propaganda, and exploiting economic turmoil, Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933 without an outright election win.
Q2: What was Hitler’s main goal?
His primary goals were to establish a racially “pure” German empire and expand its territory eastward.
Q3: Was Hitler ever elected by the people?
No, he was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg. However, his party had gained significant support through elections.
Q4: Why is it important to study Hitler today?
Studying Hitler helps us understand the consequences of hatred, dictatorship, and indifference, and reminds us to protect human rights and democracy.
Q5: What ultimately caused Hitler’s downfall?
Strategic military mistakes, overwhelming Allied forces, internal resistance, and the failure of his ideologies led to his downfall.
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