Adolf Hitler
Haley Whitworth
Early Beginnings
Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria, Adolf Hitler had a fairly normal early life before his rise to power. The fourth of six children in his family, he left his homeland and moved to Germany when he was three years old. He developed a strong sense of nationalism at a young age, rejecting his Austrian origins, which would be a very important motivator for him later on in life.
Hitler dropped out of school two years after his father died suddenly in 1903. It was at this time that Hitler moved to Vienna, working as a casual laborer and water color painter. He tried to get into the Academy of Fine Arts twice, and was declined both times. Poor and homeless, Hitler returned home. When World War I broke out, he applied to serve in the German military. His political career would take off following closely the end of World War I.
A Normal Man
An Artist
A Strong Leader
Political Career
Hitler began to give speeches that attracted regular audiences and peaked people's attention. On November 8, 1923, Hitler attempted a coup d'tat which ultimately failed, landing him a year in prison. During this time is when Hitler would write his famous novel Mein Kampf.
After his release, Hitler ran for president in 1932 against Paul von Hindenburg. Coming in second with over 35% of the vote in the final election, Hitler proved himself a force to be reckoned with when it came to politics. Hindenberg decided to appoint Hitler as chancellor to promote his political image. It was from his position as chancellor that Hitler was able to turn Germany into a communist country and formed the Nazi political party, which was the only political party present in Germany. The rest is history.
"I fear a weak Germany almost as much as I do a strong, belligerent one. If she's weak, she's prey to any demigod who comes along and promises to restore German pride." -France 1919
The Threat and Power of Adolf Hitler
You see, the most terrifying thing about Hitler wasn't the acts he committed during World War 2, but it was in the way he was able to so easily sway a crowd, a country, of people. Germany had been severely wronged in the Treaty of Versailles. Stripped of an army, money, and power, the Germans were weak, hungry, and angry. Hitler saw this opportunity to take control and lead the Germans to a better future. Hitler promised the German people that he could lead them to a better future, a future where people would be proud to say "I am German!" He would end the hunger and poverty that plagued the land, demolish social structure, asking now not "what can the rich do for the poor? Now we ask, what can a German do for himself," for now everyone is equal, and no one is given more than the other.
Not only this, Hitler was able to appeal to everybody making him seem like a great person. He told his people that his plan was not to go to war, and regrets having to do so, but something had to be done about the threat to Germany. People were threatening to destroy all that we've managed to rebuilt, and we must fight them to keep Germany alive. He was also able to appeal to the youth with his Nazi Youth program. He weighed heavily on the importance of the youth in Germany, and how they were needed to carry on the German legacy. Everyone, including the youth, believed in Hitler's cause to make Germany the great power it used to be.
Hitler may have done terrible things, but no one can say he was a terrible leader, and often times you wonder what the world would be like today had the Allied Powers lost the war.