World War II/Important People/Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. Hitler led Germany through World War II.

Early life

Hitler was born in 1889 in Braunau am Inn in Austria. He was the fourth of six children and had two half-siblings.

In 1907, Hitler moved to Vienna and applied to art school, but he was rejected twice. He made paintings in the street. In May 1913, Hitler moved to Munich. In February 1914, he was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army but deemed unfit for service.

World War I

Hitler voluntarily joined the Bavarian Army in August 1914. At the First Battle of Ypres, he received the Iron Cross, Second Class.

Hitler was wounded at the Battle of the Somme, recovering for two months in a hospital. He received the Black Wound Badge in May 1918. In August 1918, he received the Iron Cross, First Class.

Entry into politics

In 1920, Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party (DAP, later NSDAP). Later that year, he renamed the party to the NSDAP, or Nazi Party. In 1923, Hitler helped orchestrate the Beer Hall Putsch, an attempted coup in Munich. He was imprisoned February 1924 to a 5 year sentence, but was let out 10 months later. In prison he writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle), his manifesto.

In 1928, the Nazi Party began to gain seats in the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament, and by 1932, they would get a majority. Hitler lost to Paul von Hindenburg in the presidential election, but was appointed chancellor.

In February 1933, the Reichstag was burned. Hitler used the fire as an opportunity to seize power with the Reichstag Fire Decree. In March, Hitler passed the Enabling Act, allowing him to become de facto dictator, by arresting members of the KPD and SPD and stopping them from attending the Reichstag session. By July, the NSDAP was the only legal political party. After President Hindenburg’s death on August 2nd, 1934, Hitler had full control over Germany.

Road to war

In 1935, Hitler created the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force. He also made mandatory conscription. Also, he held a referendum in the Saarland, a region of Germany under French occupation after the Treaty of Versailles.

Hitler ended up annexing the Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, the city of Danzig, and Memelland before invading Poland on September 1st, 1939.

World War II

Hitler killed himself on April 30th, 1945. Germany surrendered 2 days later.