Adolf Hitler

## History

### Early Life

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary (now Austria), to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl. He was the fourth of six children in the family, but only he and his younger sister, Paula, survived infancy.

As a child, Hitler showed talent in drawing, but his father wanted him to pursue a career in civil service. After Alois's death in 1903, Hitler's resistance to authority and poor academic performance led him to drop out of school at the age of 16. He moved to Vienna in 1907 to pursue a career as an artist, but he struggled to gain admission to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, and his artistic dreams were shattered.

Military Service and World War I: In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany, where he found his life's calling as a nationalist and anti-Semitic politician. When World War I broke out in 1914, he enlisted in the German army and served as a dispatch runner on the Western Front. His experiences during the war further fueled his nationalistic beliefs and solidified his anti-Semitic views.

Rise to Power: After the war, Hitler returned to Munich and joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), which he later renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), or the Nazi Party. Hitler quickly rose through the ranks due to his charisma and powerful oratory skills. He developed a fanatical following among disenchanted Germans who were frustrated with the economic hardships and the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

In 1923, Hitler attempted a coup known as the Beer Hall Putsch, in an effort to seize power in Munich. The coup failed, and Hitler was arrested and sentenced to prison for five years, though he served less than a year. During his time in prison, he wrote his autobiographical manifesto, "Mein Kampf" ("My Struggle"), in which he outlined his racist ideology and plans for Germany's future.

Road to Dictatorship: In the early 1930s, the Nazi Party gained popularity amid the Great Depression, political instability, and widespread discontent in Germany. In the 1932 elections, the Nazi Party became the largest political party in the Reichstag (German parliament). In January 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, believing he could control and moderate him.

Consolidation of Power: After becoming Chancellor, Hitler and the Nazis swiftly began dismantling democratic institutions and consolidating power. Using the Reichstag Fire as a pretext, the Nazis passed the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and allowed for the suppression of political opposition.

In 1934, upon President Hindenburg's death, Hitler combined the positions of Chancellor and President, effectively making himself the Führer (leader) of Germany. He then purged the Nazi Party and the military of potential rivals during the "Night of the Long Knives."

Policies and World War II: Hitler's regime aggressively pursued an expansionist foreign policy, aiming to reclaim territories lost in World War I and establish a Greater German Empire. In 1938, Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss) and later took control of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement.

In September 1939, Hitler's forces invaded Poland, triggering the outbreak of World War II. Germany quickly conquered large parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and much of Eastern Europe.

The Holocaust and Final Years: During World War II, Hitler and the Nazis implemented the "Final Solution," the systematic genocide of six million Jews and millions of others, including Romani people, disabled individuals, and others deemed undesirable. The Holocaust remains one of history's most horrifying atrocities.

As the war turned against Germany, with the Allied forces advancing from both the east and west, Hitler's health declined, and he became increasingly reclusive. On April 30, 1945, sensing the imminent fall of Berlin, he committed suicide in his underground bunker. His longtime companion, Eva Braun, also took her own life.

Legacy: Adolf Hitler's legacy is one of infamy and horror. He was responsible for the deaths of millions of people and the destruction caused by World War II. The Nazi regime's ideology was based on hate, racism, and totalitarianism, leading to immense suffering and the devastation of entire nations. The Nazi era remains a dark chapter in human history, serving as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked authoritarianism and hatred.