Early life and Background
Adolf Hitler is one of history’s most notorious dictators. Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria, his father, Alois, was a customs official, and his mother, Klara, was a devout Catholic. As a teenager, Hitler clashed with his father and authoritative figures, and by 1900 he had dropped out of school. He moved to Vienna to pursue a career as an artist, but he failed the entrance exam for the art academy. He instead worked odd jobs and developed an anti-Semitic point of view.
The Mein Kampf Years
Unable to find success as an artist, Hitler decided to enter politics. In the aftermath of World War I, he joined the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party, and in 1920 he began to advocate for a unified “Greater Germany” and a specifically “Aryan” nationality. He wrote his manifesto and beliefs in the book known as Mein Kampf (My Struggle). By 1921 he was a leader in the Nazi Party, and that same year he was arrested after a failed coup, called the Beer Hall Putsch. During his time in prison, he wrote the second volume of Mein Kampf and spent time organizing the political strategies of the Nazi Party.
Becoming Chancellor and Fuehrer
Hitler soon gained public notoriety within the Nazi Party and with the German people, and on January 30, 1933, he was appointed chancellor of Germany. After German President Paul von Hindenburg died in 1934, Hitler became both chancellor and president, and he was given full governmental control. With ultimate power, Hitler introduced strict laws governing social, economical and governmental agendas, and he began persecuting people who didn’t agree with his views.
Going to War
In 1938, wanting to resurrect a sense of German homogeneity and strength, Hitler annexed Austria and then began a crusade through Europe. His war on Europe culminated in 1941 when he declared war on the Soviet Union and, subsequently, the United States. With his army depleted and losses mounting, Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945 in the bunker beneath the Chancellery.
Legacy and Annual Remembrance
As the face of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler remains one of the most reviled figures in history. He and his ideologies brought about the end of World War II and are still intensely studied in order to understand the nature of racism, fascism, and genocide. In modern Germany and worldwide, his death is commemorated as a day of remembrance.
Hitler and Conspiracy Theories
The efficiency of the Nazi regime and their sweeping success in erasing the aftermath of World War II, have invited an abundance of conspiracy theories. From claims that Hitler escaped to South America to rumors of DNA clones, these theories have been widely discussed in popular culture.
Hitler’s Youth Policies
Hitler was infamously known for his hatred of Jews and other so-called ‘undesirables’, however, his influence also extended to the nation’s youth. Through the Hitler Youth program, the Nazi leader sought to indoctrinate the nation’s young people with his political views and valued racial purity. The program was mandatory for all children over the age of ten, and members were encouraged to partake in physical activities, patriotic events, and military-style drills.
Hitler as a Cultural Icon
Despite his atrocious crimes, some groups still attempt to glorify Hitler and the former Nazi Party. Paintings depicting Hitler as a messianic figure and t-shirts with his face on them are still being sold online to this day. Additionally, Nazi symbolism, such as swastikas, are found in art, jewelry, and even tattoos.
Adolf Hitler in Modern Day Germany
The promotion of Nazi beliefs and symbols is not tolerated in modern-day Germany, despite the fascination with serial killers and dictators growing increasingly prevalent amongst young people in other countries. In Germany, it is illegal to display a swastika or any Nazi paraphernalia as well as use Adolf Hitler’s name as an identifier.