Life Of Hitler Essay, Research Paper
On April 30,1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in an
underground bunker near the center of Berlin. His dream of a Thousand – Year Reich”
lay in ruins. German cities had been bombed, German armies captured or destroyed. A
week after Hitlers death, Germany offered unconditional surrender to Allied forces.
The nightmare of World War 2 in Europe came to an end.
Hitler was the only man responsible for the horrors of World War 2. But it was his
dream of world domination that possessed Germany. For twelve years he had the
opportunity to make the world over in the image of his sick fantasies. He nearly
succeeded.
Hitler was one of the most hated men in world history. But he
cannot be dismissed as simply a monster who through the accidents of history reached
great power. Hitler was a man whose prejudices and fears were shared by many other
people. He gained their trust, even their adoration. Millions, after all died fighting in his
name. We must take Hitler seriously both as an individual and as an effective politician
in order to understand how he gained so much power and how he abused that power.
Only then will we be able to appreciate the profound evil of Hitler and Nazism.
Adolf Hitler: The Man Behind the Mask!
Adlof Hitler was born April 20, 1889 to Alois and Klara Hitler and had a little sister
Paula and half-brother Alois J.R. and half-sister Angela.
Young Adolf was a good student in elementary. Energetic and smart, leader among
children his own age. Loved warlike games. Had an outstanding gift as a speaker. It
was also discovered Adolf could draw which encouraged him to want to become an
artist.
After returning to Vienna in February hoping to gain admission
to the Academy of Fine Arts, but had been turned down and later turned down twice
more after failing the entrance exam.
He lived alone most of his life until Reihold Hanisch, noted
his talent for drawing and suggested he produce postcards to be sold on taverns and on
the street. They sold well and Hanisch suggested Hitler produce water color pictures
which could be sold for more money.
His mother died December 21, 1907 and he left Vienna later on
in 1913 for he hated Jews and despised of his country because of the trade- unions,
democratic rule, and mankind. So, he left Vienna and went to Munich to study art and
architecture, while in the mean time becoming fascinated with politics as he continued
to struggle as an artist.
When all hopes of Hitler becoming an artist were lost
World War 1 had started when Archduke Franz Ferdinan was assassinatedon June 28
in Sarajevo. After that Austria declared war on Serbia, Germany declared war on
Russia and France.
Hitler volunteered for the German army and was accepted. He saw action on the
western front facing British, French, and Belgian troops. Hilter worked as a messenger.
He had receives six medals for bravery including the Iron Cross Medal which is
Germany’s highest military honor. After Germany’s defeat in 1917. Hitler felt military
had stabbed Germany in the back for giving up and not wanting to fight.
On June 28, 1919, Versailles Treaty was signed which caused a break down of military
and police organizations. A first attept at political democracy was made, but failed.
On March 31, 1920, The Nationalist Socialist Party German Workers Party was
formed. (Nazi) It’s symbol was the Swastika. Hitler then became a private citizen and
wrote his book called Mein Kampf while in jail for a Putsch.
The Nazi Party was declared illegal so the National Socialist
Freedom Movement was formed. When released from jail on December 20,1924,
Germany resumed role as leader of European Culture. Hitler was appointed Chancellor
of Germany January 30, 1933. As a result Hitler wanted to control the world so he
started conflicts and opening fire on countries. Starting with Czechoslovakia then
Belgium, England and France. Hitler then wanted Poland, but in order to take Poland
he had to make a Peace Treaty with Russia as he did in August of 1939. In June of
1941 Hitler turned adn invaded the Soviet Union which went well as Germany had
scored another victory.
Being that Hitler disliked Jews he decided to attack any and
every Jew in Europe to create a one race nation. The first large scale
physical attack occured in November, 1938, after this attack Concentration or Death
Camps were set up to rid Europe of Jews.
Jews from France, Belgium, Holland, Croatia, Mindk, Norway,
Greece, Vilna, and Rome were brought to the camps in Auchwitz by train. Once at the
camp Jews were separated, marched to the chambers where hundreds of people at a
time could be poisoned to death. There the Jews were told there was work for them
and they had to change clothes. Guards would then come and send them to a room
outfitted with showerheads.
After entering the door was screwed up and gas was discharged by waiting disinfectors
through vents in the ceiling. A revolt was made in protesting the camps. After the revolt
Hitlers initial success in the Soviet Union he was unable to destroy the Red Army.
Hitlers plans were too ambitious. He dispersed his forces, thinking he could besiege
Leningrad in the north, attack Moscow, and at the same time, capture oil fields in the
Caucasus.
As the war dragged on and the scope of Germany’s defeat became evident, Hitler grew
increasingly isolated and hard to work with then shot himself
April 30, 1945.
The author feels that Hitler’s career began in the years
following World War 1 when Germany was forced to accept the Versailles Treaty.
Hitler had served in the trences. He took Germany’s defeat as a personal insult-as did
many veterans- and he vowed to reverse the wars outcome. This was a formative
experience for him and explains why he declared during the Second World War that
Germay would not surrender, that there would not be another 1918.
But as we’ve seen, Hitler’s ambitions went far beyond what might be considered the
legitimate or at least the natural and altogether expected wishes of a resurgent German
nationalism. He wanted not only to restore Germany as the dominant power in Europe
but also to destroy European civilizatiokn and create a Nazi empire in the center of
Europe.
Only a madman could have dreamed these dreams. Only a
political genius could have mobilized public support for them. Only an original military
thinker could have come as close as he did tdo making them all come true. In the end,
however, Hitler was defeated, and the political and geographic changes in Europe which
his war produced were the opposite of what he intended.