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(1889-1945)

Who Was Adolf Hitler?
Adolf Hitler was chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, serving as dictator and leader of the Nazi Party, or National Socialist German Workers Party, for the bulk of his time in power.

Hitler’s fascist policies precipitated World War II and led to the genocide known as the Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of some six million Jews and another five million noncombatants.

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Family
The fourth of six children, Hitler was born to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. As a child, Hitler clashed frequently with his emotionally harsh father, who also didn't approve of his son's later interest in fine art as a career.

Following the death of his younger brother, Edmund, in 1900, Hitler became detached and introverted.

Young Hitler
Hitler showed an early interest in German nationalism, rejecting the authority of Austria-Hungary. This nationalism would become the motivating force of Hitler's life.

In 1903, Hitler’s father died suddenly. Two years later, Hitler's mother allowed her son to drop out of school. After her death in December 1907, Hitler moved to Vienna and worked as a casual laborer and watercolor painter. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice and was rejected both times.

Lacking money outside of an orphan's pension and funds from selling postcards, he stayed in homeless shelters. Hitler later pointed to these years as the time when he first cultivated his anti-Semitism, though there is some debate about this account.

Questions
1. When and where was Hitler born?
2. Briefly explain Hitler’s youth and life with his parents.
3. According to Hitler, at what point in his life did his anti-Semitism (prejudice
towards Jewish people) begin?
4. How did Hitler view the outcome of WWI for Germany?
5. The Treaty of Versailles was the trey imposed upon Germany by the Allies
following WWI. How did Hitler feel about it?
6. After WWI, explain Hitler’s role in Germany politics.
7. What was the “Beer Hall Putsch”? What did it cause?
8. What is “Mein Kampf”? Explain.

1 answer

  1. When and where was Hitler born? Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria.

  2. Briefly explain Hitler’s youth and life with his parents. Hitler was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. He had a tumultuous relationship with his strict father, who disapproved of Hitler's aspirations to become an artist. After the death of his younger brother, Edmund, in 1900, Hitler became more introverted. His father died in 1903, and following the death of his mother in 1907, he had a lack of direction and became a casual laborer in Vienna.

  3. According to Hitler, at what point in his life did his anti-Semitism begin? Hitler claimed that his anti-Semitism developed during his years living in Vienna, although there is some debate about the credibility of this account.

  4. How did Hitler view the outcome of WWI for Germany? Hitler viewed the outcome of World War I as a humiliation for Germany and believed that it had been unfairly treated in the aftermath of the war.

  5. How did Hitler feel about the Treaty of Versailles? Hitler despised the Treaty of Versailles, considering it a symbol of Germany’s humiliation and a betrayal. He argued that it imposed harsh reparations and restricted Germany's military capabilities.

  6. After WWI, explain Hitler’s role in Germany politics. After World War I, Hitler became involved in German politics and joined the German Workers' Party, which he later transformed into the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). He quickly rose through the ranks, capitalizing on public discontent and promoting nationalist and anti-Semitic ideologies.

  7. What was the "Beer Hall Putsch"? What did it cause? The Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup attempt by Hitler and the Nazi Party in November 1923, aimed at overthrowing the Weimar government in Munich. The coup resulted in Hitler's arrest and imprisonment, during which he wrote "Mein Kampf." It also led to a period of introspection and organization for the Nazi Party.

  8. What is “Mein Kampf”? Explain. "Mein Kampf," meaning "My Struggle," is a book written by Adolf Hitler during his imprisonment following the Beer Hall Putsch. In it, he outlined his political ideology, including his beliefs in Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, German nationalism, and future plans for Germany. The book became a foundational text for Nazi ideology and played a significant role in promoting Hitler's vision for Germany.