Adolf Hitler Timeline
Adolf Hitler is one of the most infamous figures in history. He was the leader of Nazi Germany during World War II, a conflict which he ultimately lost, leading to his own suicide. The timeline of Hitler’s life, activities, and actions is long and complex. It starts in 1889 with his birth into a lower-middle class German family, and continues up to his death in 1945.
Birth and Early Life
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th, 1889 in the small Austrian town of Braunau am Inn, near the German border. He was the fourth of six children to his father, Alois, and his mother, Klara. Both parents had had hard upbringings, yet despite this, Hitler was able to enjoy a comfortable childhood.
Growing up, Hitler attended a nearby Realschule, where he studied basic subjects such as math and German. He excelled at neither and was only a mediocre student. Still, despite his lack of academic ability, it has been said that teachers were impressed at the level of his powers of oratory.
In 1905, a student at the school, Oskar Kohn, took it upon himself to request to read some of Hitler’s many essays. Initially, the essay’s owner was reluctant, but eventually he gave in and allowed Kohn to read them. His report on the essays concluding that they were too ‘silly’ to be taken seriously.
Military Service
At the age of 16, Hitler was sent to Vienna by his father to pursue a career in art. When he failed the entrance exam to the Fine Art Academy, he was forced to abandon his dreams and take up a job as a laborer. In 1907, at the age of 18, Hitler left Vienna and moved to Munich, Germany.
In September 1914, Hitler volunteered for service in the first World War with the German army and quickly rose through the ranks. Although he was a brave soldier, winning an Iron Cross for his bravery, Hitler was wounded twice and was eventually sent to a military hospital. On his return to the battlefield in 1918, he was promoted to corporal.
Role in German Politics
As the war came to an end, Hitler’s attention shifted to politics. He joined the German Workers’ Party and quickly rose to the top. In 1921, Hitler assumed the role of führer or leader of the party, and went on to run in the presidential election in 1932.
In 1933, the Nazi Party won a majority in the Reichstag, the parliament of Germany. Hitler was then appointed his country’s chancellor in 1933, a position from which he would go on to declare himself leader of Germany (führer) in 1934. He was granted more powers than any leader before him and set about creating a one-party Fascist dictatorship in Germany.
World War II
Hitler led Nazi Germany into World War II in 1939, in an attempt to create a ‘greater’ Germany by conquering Europe. At first, his advances were successful, with German forces defeating armies from the Soviet Union, France, Belgium and other countries. By 1941, however, German forces were suffering heavy losses and began to retreat.
Hitler’s forces were able to make a temporary comeback in 1942, but in 1944, Soviet forces began to encircle Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. On 30 April 1945, Hitler and his wife of one day, Eva Braun, committed suicide in his underground bunker. His body was later recovered by Soviet forces and taken away for burial.
The Holocaust
During his rule as führer, Hitler instituted several policies, with the most notorious being his elimination of the Jews. His campaign to rid Europe of Jews and other minorities resulted in the deaths of millions of innocent people in concentration camps, during mass killings and by other means.Along with his actions in the war, it is the Holocaust that cemented his name in infamy.
A Final Reflection
From a leader of a nationalist political party to dictating a country at war, Hitler’s story is one of many success, infamy and ultimate failure. Even after so much loss of life and unrest, his legacy still lives on and his name still evokes fear, hatred and sorrow.Yet, even with such power, Hitler ultimately failed and the world has been left to reflect on his life, his words, and the damage he has done.
Economic Policies
Hitler’s economic policy included his four-year plan. This plan’s goal was to create an economy that could support Germany’s war efforts. He encouraged increased production of steel, coal and other military essentials, as well as the reduction of unemployment. His economic policy also included the restriction of raw materials and the use of slave labour. Hitler and his government also implemented strict price controls, limiting inflation and creating a period of relative economic stability in Nazi Germany.
Rise to Power
In 1923, Hitler and his followers attempted a coup d’etat (known as the Beer Hall Putsch) which failed, resulting in Hitler’s imprisonment. After serving a nine-month sentence in jail, Hitler remained determined to enter politics, and upon his release he set about reorganizing the German Workers’ Party. He embarked on a campaign of agitation and propaganda, and by 1930 the Nazi Party had become the largest political party in Germany.
Following the 1932 presidential election, with the Nazi party winning seats in the Reichstag, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933.With the passage of the Enabling Act in 1934, Hitler was granted plenary powers, making him the absolute leader of Germany, and the Nazi Revolution was complete.
Final Days
As 1945 drew to a close, the German forces were in full retreat, and foreign forces were on the brink of entering the city. Despite this, Hitler was not willing to surrender, and continued to cling on to power even as his enemies circled. On the 30th of April 1945, Hitler and his companion, Eva Braun, committed suicide in his bunker. The two were later buried in a shallow grave to remain unidentified.
The death of Adolf Hitler marked the end of a long and turbulent era in German history, as well as the end of arguably the most oppressive regime in human history. While Hitler’s legacy will always be remembered with sorrow and hatred, it also serves as an important reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and the importance of moral and ethical governance.
