1. The Rise of Hitler
CHC 2DI
S. Todd

2. Adolf Hitler as an infant
Childhood
Born on 20 April 1889 in Austria-Hungary to
Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl
Many of his siblings died in infancy
When Hitler was three, his
family moved to Germany
Had a tense relationship with his father and did very poorly in school
Adolf Hitler as an infant

3. Early Adulthood Moved to Vienna and lived a bohemian life as a painter
Applied to Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts but was rejected twice
After the second rejection, Hitler’s mother died of breast cancer at age 47
He ran out of money and was forced to live in homeless shelters and hostels

4. The Courtyard of the Old Residency in Munich - Adolf Hitler (1914)

5. Antisemitism
At the time Hitler lived there, Vienna was a hotbed of religious prejudice and racism
It was feared that immigrants from the East (particularly Jews) would take over Western Europe
Hitler read many anti-Semitic newspapers while living there
Historians say that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when Hitler “became” anti-Semitic but there is general agreement that it was before the end of WWI

6. Hitler and World War I
Hitler fought in the First Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Arras, and the Battle of Passchendaele, and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme
October 1918: Hitler temporarily blinded in a mustard gas attack and hospitalized
It was while in hospital that he learned of Germany’s defeat in World War I
He received many war medals for his bravery and military skill during the war

7. Adolf Hitler from

8. Post-WWI After the war, Hitler returned to Germany
With no career or education, he remained in the army
Hitler was discharged from the army in March 1920 and began working full-time for the Nazi party
The Nazi party was determined to crush Marxism and undermine the Weimar Republic
Hitler began making public speeches and quickly became famous for his speeches against the Treaty of Versailles and Jews

9. Post-WWI
Hitler served a year in prison for leading the Beer Hall Putsch (tried to overthrow the government!)
During his time in prison, he wrote his autobiography, “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle)
The book laid out Hitler's plans for transforming German society into one based on race  very anti-Semitic

10. Hitler and Politics
When released from prison, Hitler promised that he would only seek political power in a legal way
When the stock market crashed in 1929, Hitler and the Nazis used it as a way to promise to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and abolish the Treaty of Versailles

11. Election 1932: Hitler and the Nazis won 35% of the vote
He was then appointed Chancellor, the leader of Germany
Hitler then passed the Enabling Act which transformed Germany’s government into a dictatorship
Using his new power, Hitler eventually wiped out all other political parties

12. 1933: Reichstag Fire – German parliament went up in flames
Hitler and the Nazis blamed communists
Used it as a way to further persecute communists and to suspend certain rights

13. Hitler as Leader
Under Hitler’s leadership, life in Germany improved immensely
Unemployment fell from 6 million in 1932 to 1 million in 1936
Infrastructure improved – roads, bridges, railways, Autobahn
The “People’s Car” – literal translation:

14. 1938 Volkswagen Beetle

15. Hitler’s Objectives
1933: Hitler spoke of his goal for Lebensraum (“living space”)
Wanted to expand Germany’s borders to make room for a pure, superior Aryan race
Thus begins the Road to WWII…