The Story of Adolf Hitler

 

Early Life of Adolf Hitler (1889–1913)

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in the small town of Braunau am Inn, located in Austria-Hungary (now Austria), near the German border. He was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl. Of the six children, only Adolf and his sister Paula survived to adulthood.

Hitler’s father, Alois, was a strict and often harsh man who worked as a customs official. He had a short temper and frequently clashed with Adolf, who was defiant and disinterested in following his father's wishes. Alois wanted Adolf to pursue a career in civil service, but Adolf dreamed of becoming an artist.

Hitler attended school in Linz but performed poorly in most subjects, except for art. After his father’s death in 1903, Hitler’s school performance worsened, and he eventually dropped out. In 1907, at the age of 18, he moved to Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to pursue his dream of becoming a painter.

However, Hitler faced repeated failure in Vienna. He applied twice to the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts Vienna but was rejected both times, mainly because his drawings lacked human figures and artistic technique. During his years in Vienna (1907–1913), Hitler lived in poverty, sometimes staying in homeless shelters and selling postcards and paintings to survive.

It was during this period that Hitler's views on race, politics, and society began to harden. He was influenced by the rising tide of German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Marxist sentiment in Vienna. Although there is debate about how deeply these ideas affected him at the time, they would later become central to his political beliefs.

In 1913, Hitler left Vienna and moved to Munich, Germany, seeking a new beginning and to avoid military service in Austria. This marked the end of his early life and the beginning of his deeper involvement with Germany and its future political destiny.

Hitler in World War I (1914–1918)

When World War I broke out in August 1914, Adolf Hitler was living in Munich, Germany, having recently moved there from Austria. Despite being an Austrian citizen, Hitler was deeply loyal to Germany and volunteered to serve in the German Army.

He was accepted and assigned to the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. Unlike many who were horrified by the war, Hitler found a sense of purpose and belonging in the military. He served primarily as a messenger, a dangerous role that required carrying messages between the front lines and headquarters under fire.

During the war, Hitler fought in several major battles, including the Battle of the Somme and Ypres. He was wounded twice — once by shrapnel in the leg in 1916 and later temporarily blinded by a mustard gas attack in 1918. He spent time in military hospitals recovering from both injuries.

Hitler was considered a brave and loyal soldier by his superiors and was awarded several decorations, including the Iron Cross, Second Class, and later, the Iron Cross, First Class — a rare honor for someone of his low rank (corporal).

However, Hitler never rose above the rank of Gefreiter (corporal), and he was not popular among his fellow soldiers. Many saw him as odd and solitary, often avoiding the typical camaraderie of trench life.

When Germany surrendered in November 1918, Hitler was devastated. Like many German nationalists, he believed the army had been “stabbed in the back” by politicians, communists, and Jews — a conspiracy theory that later became central to Nazi propaganda. He blamed Germany’s defeat not on the battlefield but on internal betrayal and the Treaty of Versailles, which followed in 1919 and imposed harsh penalties on Germany.

The end of the war marked a turning point for Hitler. Disillusioned, angry, and unemployed, he stayed in the army for a short time after the war ended and was assigned to gather intelligence on political groups. This assignment would soon draw him into politics — and change the course of history.

Entry into Politics (1919–1923)

After Germany’s defeat in World War I, Adolf Hitler returned to Munich with no clear direction. Like many veterans, he struggled to find a purpose in the chaotic years following the war. Germany was in political and economic turmoil, dealing with the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, rising inflation, widespread unemployment, and civil unrest.

In 1919, while still working for the army, Hitler was assigned to monitor political organizations. One of these was a small, nationalist group called the German Workers’ Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or DAP). Though he was originally sent to spy on the group, Hitler was drawn to its ideas — especially its strong German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and anti-communism. He soon joined the party himself.

Hitler quickly gained attention for his powerful speeches. He was a charismatic speaker who could stir strong emotions in his audience. His speeches blamed Germany’s problems on the Treaty of Versailles, Jews, Marxists, and the Weimar Republic government. His ability to express the anger and frustration many Germans felt helped him rise rapidly in the party’s ranks.

In 1920, the German Workers’ Party changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), better known as the Nazi Party. Hitler helped shape the party’s platform and designed its symbols, including the swastika. The party attracted many people looking for strong leadership and radical change.

By 1921, Hitler had become the party’s undisputed leader. He created a private militia known as the SA (Sturmabteilung or “Storm Troopers”), which used violence and intimidation against political opponents, especially communists and socialists.

In November 1923, inspired by Mussolini’s rise to power in Italy, Hitler attempted to seize control of the Bavarian government in what became known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Along with other Nazi leaders, he stormed a political meeting in Munich and declared a national revolution. The coup failed, and Hitler was arrested and charged with treason.

However, the trial gave Hitler national attention. He used it as a platform to promote his ideas. Though he was sentenced to five years in prison, he served only nine months. During this time, he wrote the first volume of Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"), in which he outlined his vision for Germany, his racist ideology, and his plan for the future.

Mein Kampf and Hitler’s Ideology

While serving his prison sentence after the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, Adolf Hitler wrote the first volume of his book Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”). He dictated the contents to his loyal associate Rudolf Hess, outlining his political beliefs, future plans for Germany, and his personal worldview.

Published in 1925 (with a second volume in 1926), Mein Kampf became the foundational text for the Nazi movement and revealed the core elements of Hitler’s ideology:

1. Extreme Nationalism

Hitler believed that Germany was a superior nation that had been humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. He called for the overthrow of the treaty, the expansion of German territory (especially into Eastern Europe), and the unification of all ethnic Germans into one empire—“Greater Germany.”

2. Racial Purity and Anti-Semitism

One of the most dangerous and central ideas in Mein Kampf was the concept of racial hierarchy. Hitler believed in the superiority of the “Aryan” race (primarily Northern Europeans) and considered Jews, Slavs, Roma (Gypsies), and other groups to be racially inferior.

He blamed Jews for almost every problem Germany faced, from the defeat in World War I to the economy and cultural decay. Hitler described Jews as a global threat and called for their removal from society — ideas that laid the foundation for the Holocaust.

3. Anti-Communism and Anti-Democracy

Hitler fiercely opposed Marxism and Communism, associating both with Jewish influence. He believed that the Weimar Republic, Germany’s democratic government after WWI, was weak and corrupt. Instead, he advocated for a strong authoritarian government led by a single leader — the Führer — who would embody the will of the people.

4. Lebensraum (“Living Space”)

Another key idea in Mein Kampf was the belief that Germany needed more land to grow and prosper. Hitler argued that Germany should conquer territory in the east, particularly in the Soviet Union, to provide “living space” for the German people. This would involve war, colonization, and the removal or destruction of existing populations in those areas.

5. Propaganda and Indoctrination

Hitler emphasized the importance of propaganda as a tool for controlling public opinion and shaping belief. He believed that effective propaganda needed to be simple, emotional, and repetitive. This idea would later be implemented through mass media and education under Nazi rule.

Though Mein Kampf was not widely read at first, it gained popularity as Hitler rose in power. By the time he became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, the book had become a bestseller and was distributed widely — even given as a gift at weddings.

The ideas in Mein Kampf were not just hateful words on paper. They formed the blueprint for the Nazi regime, World War II, and the Holocaust, which would claim the lives of millions and reshape world history.

Rise to Power (1924–1933)

After being released from prison in December 1924, Adolf Hitler found the Nazi Party in disarray. It had been banned after the failed Beer Hall Putsch, and public support had declined. However, Hitler was determined to rebuild the party and gain power—not through revolution, but through legal political means.

Rebuilding the Nazi Party

In the late 1920s, Hitler reorganized the Nazi Party. He focused on spreading propaganda, building local party branches, and forming paramilitary groups like the SA (Storm Troopers) and later the more elite SS (Schutzstaffel) to protect party meetings and intimidate opponents.

He also appointed talented people to key roles—Joseph Goebbels, for example, became head of Nazi propaganda, while Heinrich Himmler would eventually lead the SS. Hitler refined his public image and focused on broadening the party’s appeal beyond just nationalist extremists.

The Great Depression: A Turning Point

In 1929, the Great Depression hit Germany hard. Millions lost their jobs, the economy collapsed, and the Weimar Republic appeared helpless. Many Germans began to lose faith in democracy and turned to extremist parties, including the Nazis, who promised to restore national pride, rebuild the economy, and provide strong leadership.

Hitler used the crisis to his advantage. He blamed the economic collapse on the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar politicians, Jews, and Communists. His speeches attracted large crowds, and the Nazi Party gained increasing support.

Electoral Success

The Nazi Party’s popularity soared in the early 1930s. In the July 1932 elections, it became the largest party in the Reichstag (German Parliament), winning 230 seats. However, Hitler was not yet Chancellor. President Paul von Hindenburg and conservative elites were wary of giving him full control.

Over time, however, political instability and behind-the-scenes deals led to Hitler being seen as a necessary choice to restore order. On January 30, 1933, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, believing he could be controlled and used to stabilize the country.

Consolidating Power

Once in office, Hitler moved quickly to eliminate opposition. After the Reichstag Fire in February 1933, he convinced Hindenburg to sign the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and allowed mass arrests of Communists.

In March 1933, Hitler pushed through the Enabling Act, which gave him dictatorial powers by allowing him to pass laws without parliamentary approval. This effectively marked the end of democracy in Germany.

By the time President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler had merged the offices of President and Chancellor, declaring himself Führer (Leader) of Germany. The army swore an oath of loyalty directly to him.

The Nazi Regime and World War II (1933–1945)

After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then Führer in 1934, he turned Germany into a totalitarian dictatorship. The Nazi regime aimed to reshape German society according to Hitler’s extremist ideology, centered on racial purity, authoritarian control, and military expansion.

Creating a Totalitarian State

Hitler and the Nazis quickly dismantled Germany’s democratic institutions:

• All political parties except the Nazi Party were banned.

• Trade unions were abolished and replaced by Nazi-controlled organizations.

• The Gestapo (secret police) and the SS were used to arrest, torture, and kill anyone seen as a threat to the regime.

• Strict censorship and propaganda, led by Joseph Goebbels, ensured total control of information, education, and the media.

• The Hitler Youth and League of German Girls were established to indoctrinate children from an early age.

Persecution of Jews and Minorities

One of the central goals of the Nazi regime was the exclusion and eventual elimination of Jews from German society. Starting with anti-Semitic laws like the Nuremberg Laws (1935), Jews were stripped of their rights, banned from public life, and forced into ghettos.

Other targeted groups included:

• Roma (Gypsies)

• Disabled individuals (many of whom were murdered under the T4 euthanasia program)

• Homosexuals

• Political dissidents, such as communists, socialists, and religious opponents

These policies laid the foundation for what would become the Holocaust.

The Road to War

Hitler’s foreign policy aimed at overturning the Treaty of Versailles and expanding German territory:

• In 1936, he sent troops into the Rhineland (a demilitarized zone), violating the treaty.

• In 1938, he annexed Austria in the Anschluss.

• Later that year, he took over the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) through the Munich Agreement.

In 1939, Hitler signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), secretly agreeing to divide Eastern Europe between the two powers.

World War II Begins

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, leading Britain and France to declare war. This marked the beginning of World War II.

Germany used a new style of warfare called Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”)—fast, coordinated attacks using tanks, aircraft, and infantry. Within months, Hitler conquered:

• Poland (1939)

• Denmark and Norway (1940)

• Belgium, the Netherlands, and France (1940)

By 1941, Hitler had taken control of most of Western Europe. He then launched Operation Barbarossa, a massive and ultimately disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Holocaust

As war raged, the Nazis began implementing the “Final Solution”—a systematic plan to exterminate all Jews in Europe. Millions were sent to concentration camps and death camps such as Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor, where they were murdered in gas chambers or died from starvation, forced labor, and disease.

By the end of the Holocaust, approximately six million Jews had been killed, along with millions of others.

The Fall of the Nazi Regime

By 1944, the tide of war had turned. The Allied forces (Britain, the U.S., the Soviet Union, and others) began liberating Nazi-occupied territories:

• D-Day (June 6, 1944): Allied troops landed in Normandy, France.

• The Soviet Red Army pushed westward through Eastern Europe.

By April 1945, Allied forces were closing in on Berlin. Facing defeat, Hitler retreated to his underground bunker. On April 30, 1945, he committed suicide alongside Eva Braun, his long-time companion.

Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945—known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day—bringing an end to World War II in Europe.

The Holocaust (1941–1945)

The Holocaust was one of the most horrific and systematic genocides in human history, carried out by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime between 1941 and 1945. It was the planned, state-sponsored murder of six million Jews, along with millions of others the Nazis deemed "undesirable."

Though discrimination against Jews began as soon as Hitler came to power in 1933, the Holocaust reached its deadly peak during World War II.

Early Persecution (1933–1939)

Before the mass killings began, Jews in Germany were gradually stripped of their rights:

• The Nuremberg Laws (1935) banned marriages between Jews and non-Jews and declared Jews as non-citizens.

• Jewish businesses were boycotted, children were expelled from schools, and professionals like doctors and lawyers lost their jobs.

• Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”), on November 9–10, 1938, was a coordinated attack on Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. Around 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

Ghettos and Deportations

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, millions of Jews fell under Nazi control. Jews were forced into overcrowded ghettos, where starvation, disease, and violence were common. The largest was the Warsaw Ghetto, where over 400,000 Jews were confined.

In 1941, as the Nazis pushed into the Soviet Union, mobile killing units (Einsatzgruppen) began mass shootings of Jewish men, women, and children. These massacres were often carried out in forests, fields, and ravines, such as Babi Yar in Ukraine, where over 33,000 Jews were murdered in two days.

The “Final Solution”

At the Wannsee Conference in January 1942, senior Nazi officials formalized the plan known as the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”—a decision to exterminate all Jews in Europe.

This marked the beginning of industrial-scale genocide, primarily carried out in death camps across Nazi-occupied Poland:

• Auschwitz-Birkenau (the largest and most notorious)

• Treblinka

• Sobibor

• Belzec

• Chelmno

• Majdanek

Millions of Jews were transported by train to these camps, where most were immediately gassed upon arrival. Others were forced into slave labor, subjected to medical experiments, or slowly starved to death.

Victims of the Holocaust

In total, six million Jews were murdered, including:

• 1.5 million children

• Entire families, communities, and cultures

In addition to Jews, the Nazis targeted other groups:

• Roma (Gypsies) – around 250,000 murdered

• Disabled people – 200,000 killed under the T4 “euthanasia” program

• Poles and Slavs – millions killed or forced into labor

• Homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and political opponents

Liberation and Aftermath

As Allied forces advanced in 1944–1945, they began liberating concentration camps and witnessing the horrors firsthand. Survivors were skeletal and traumatized. Entire communities had been erased.

After the war, the Nuremberg Trials held top Nazi officials accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Holocaust also led to the founding of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in 1948, the State of Israel was established, partly in response to the genocide.

Fall and Death (1945):

As Allied forces closed in on Berlin in April 1945, Hitler retreated to his underground bunker. On April 30, 1945, he committed suicide along with his long-time partner, Eva Braun. Germany surrendered shortly after, on May 8, 1945, ending the war in Europe.

Legacy of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler’s legacy is one of unparalleled destruction, cruelty, and infamy. His actions as dictator of Nazi Germany led to the deaths of more than 70 million people during World War II, including the systematic genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust.

Though he ruled for just 12 years (1933–1945), the impact of his regime was felt across every continent. Cities were reduced to rubble, entire populations were displaced or wiped out, and the moral conscience of the world was forever shaken.

A Symbol of Evil

Hitler is universally remembered as one of history’s most evil figures. His name has become synonymous with tyranny, genocide, racism, and hate. His regime demonstrated how dangerous a combination of extreme ideology, unchecked power, and propaganda can become in the hands of a charismatic leader.

Lessons from the Past

The world responded to Hitler’s atrocities with major global changes:

• The United Nations was created to promote peace and prevent future conflicts.

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) was adopted to protect individual freedoms and human dignity.

• The Nuremberg Trials held Nazi leaders accountable, establishing international laws against war crimes and crimes against humanity.

• The State of Israel was established in 1948, partly as a refuge for Jews after the horrors of the Holocaust.

Historical Warning

Hitler’s rise to power is studied today as a cautionary tale. His manipulation of democratic systems, use of fear and propaganda, and promotion of racism show how fragile societies can be in times of crisis. His legacy reminds us that hate, intolerance, and indifference can lead to tragedy when left unchecked.