Hitler and the Nazi Party

Who was Hitler? Born: Braunau am Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889. He was baptized Catholic. He had a younger brother (Edmund), a younger sister (Paula), as well as an older half-brother (Alois Jr.) and an older half-sister (Angela). He was poor and never completed high school (this was not due to a lack of intelligence but rather he stopped trying in secondary school because he was not the top of the class) This among other things caused his relationship with his father to become rocky. He was 13 when his father died and when he was 18 he received his inheritance which he used to move to Vienna. His mother who he was rather close to died in 1907 (around the same time he decided to move to Vienna). Her death is said to have greatly affected him.

Who was Hitler? Some sources state that Hitler was abused as a child. “The Führer once told his secretary that during one of the regular beatings given him by his father he was able to stop crying, to feel nothing, and even to count the thirty-two blows he received.In this way, by totally denying his pain, his feelings of powerlessness, and his despair- in other words, by denying the truth - Hitler made himself into a master of violence and of contempt for human beings. The result was a very primitive person, incapable of any empathy for other people.” (http://www.thisisawar.com/AbuseNature.htm)

Examples of Hitler’s Artwork As mentioned earlier he moved to Vienna, where he lived until 1913. He survived on an orphan's pension, and later on minimal earnings from pictures he drew. He attempted to get into art school while in Vienna but was rejected…

The Beginning of Hitler’s Anti-Semitism Even after his rejection into the art school, Hitler remained in Vienna for a few more years. It is here in Vienna that he began to develop his anti-semantic views.

Hitler the Soldier In 1913 Hitler left Vienna for Munich, Germany When WWI broke out (1914-1918), he quickly enlisted in the German army. He would earn five medals including the iron cross which was awarded to combatants for acts of heroism, bravery or leadership skills… However, during his services he was never promoted beyond private because he was not viewed as having leadership qualities (ironic?)

Post WWI After the war ended Hitler returned to Munich and remained in the army until 1920. He was given the title “education officer.” These duties consisted largely of spying on political parties in the “overheated atmosphere of post-revolutionary Munich.” http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html

Hitler in Charge In September 1919 he joined the nationalist German Workers' party (which was to become the Nazi party). He began working for the party and gained control as he promised to take extreme measures to turn things around in Germany which was in disarray after WWI (he blamed these problems on the Jews and Bolsheviks). “In 1921 he was elected party chairman (Führer) with dictatorial powers.” Historychannel.com

Hitler in Charge Now in power Hitler began to spread his racist views and hatred for democracy. Hitler took advantage of the political and economic upheaval occurring in Germany in November of 1923, by leading an uprising in Munich against the postwar Weimar Republic. He proclaimed himself chancellor of a new authoritarian government. Without any military support, however, his uprising fell apart.

Hitler Goes To Prison As leader of the plot, Hitler was given a sentence of five years. However he only served eight months. During his imprisonment he wrote his autobiography Mein Kampf. When he got out, he was able to rebuild his party without interference from those who had thrown him in prison in the first place.

The Economic Woes of Germany Recap: Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to sign a peace treaty that gave away 13% of its territory. This equated to losing 6 million people, a large percentage of raw materials (65% of iron ore reserves, 45% of coal, 72% of zinc) and 10% of German factories. To further the blow, Germany also had to give up its overseas colonies and to pay for damages caused by the war which ended up being about 38% of Germany’s national wealth… So does it make sense why Germany was in a depression?

Hitler Gains Control Again The Great Depression in 1929 gave him an opportunity to gain control again. He explained the depression as a Jewish-Communist plot, and this was accepted by many Germans. He won the public over by “promising a strong Germany, jobs, and national glory” (historychannel.com) His promises swayed millions of voters to his side and the Nazi party grew. Hitler became chancellor of a coalition government (a governing body formed by multiple parties who must compromise on principles) in January of 1933. He quickly took dictatorial powers and began to institute anti-Jewish laws. He also began the process of building up Germany’s military and began the territorial expansion that would eventually lead to WWII. Further, during this time he allied with Italy and later Japan to create the Axis Powers.

WWII Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 began WWII. Fast forward… Under the command of Hitler, Germany experienced successes in Denmark, Norway and Western Europe. When attempts to defeat Britain in 1941 failed, Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union. The Jewish populations of the conquered countries, as well as other groups considered racially inferior by the Nazis, were placed in concentration camps. In December 1941, Hitler declared war on America. Germany was now fighting against the British, Americans, and Soviets… this drained/stretched the German army and resources. With Soviet troops poised to take the German capital (which would mean defeat), Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin on 30 April 1945.