Early Life
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria. His father, Alois Hitler, was the illegitimate son of Maria Anna Schicklgruber; Maria had been working in a villagers household when Alois was born. The identity of Alois’s biological father is unknown. His mother was Klara Pölzl. From a young age, Hitler displayed signs of a flawed character. He was a bully and often fought with other boys. His growing anti-Semitism was alsopresent during his childhood and teenage years. To his peers and teachers, he appeared to have a craving for power and control.
Influences of Childhood
Hitler’s mother, Klara Pölzl, played a significant role in Adolf’s early life. She instilled in the young Hitler a powerful admiration for the German Empire and its leader, the Kaiser and Emperor, Wilhelm II. Klara was very devoted to the Catholic Church and her loyalty to the Church, undoubtedly influenced Adolf and his later intense hatred of Jews.
School Days
At the Realschule in Linz, Austria, Hitler encountered ideas about anti-Semitism and racism which resonated with his own beliefs. He had grown up hearing tales of German racial superiority, and the teachings of some of his professors at the Realschule only reinforced these beliefs. One of the most influential of Adolf’s teachers, Dr. Leopold Ptäcyk, was a devoted advocate of Pan-Germanism, which was a major force behind the wave of extreme German nationalism during this period.
Reading and Writing
Hitler was an avid reader, and while in Vienna, he studied the writings of many intellectuals and philosophers. These included the writings of Karl Lueger, a leader of the anti-Semitic Christian Social Party, and the writings of Karl Marx, who advocated for the overthrow of bourgeois society. Hitler was also enthralled with the works of Arthur Schopenhauer, an 18th-century German philosopher, and Houston Stewart Chamberlain, who wrote about the myth of Aryan supremacy.
Influences of World War I
Hitler’s belief in the superiority of the German race was further solidified after joining the First World War in 1914. He became a dedicated soldier and was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. During the war, he was angered by the armistice and strongly influenced by the politics of German nationalism and the desire to reclaim lost Prussian lands. This hatred of democracy and the post-World War I politics of the Weimar Republic that followed, as well as what he viewed as the betrayal of Germany by the Allies, undoubtedly shaped Hitler’s views.
The Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler was increasingly influenced by Bavarian nationalist associates, such as Ernst Rohm and Hermann Göring. After attempting a coup against the Bavarian government in 1923 – the Beer Hall Putsch – and being imprisoned, Hitler began to consolidate his views of racial superiority and dominance in Germany. A key figure in this process was Alfred Rosenberg, a champion of anti-Semitism and German racial identity.
Written Works
Hitler further shouted his views in his book Mein Kampf, which outlined his opinions on German superiority and the necessity to rid Germany of Jews and other non-Germans. This book was widely read by other Nazi leaders and soon became the foundation of Nazi ideology.
Post-World War I Views
The aftermath of World War I, as well as Hitler’s lifetime of reading, studying, and personal experience, all contributed to his racial views and influence. It was a combination of his upbringing, his language and cultural background, as well as a host of controversial theorists and philosophers that informed his views of racial superiority and led to his eventual rise to power.
Rise to Power
In 1933, Hitler rose to the leadership of Germany, becoming chancellor of a fractured Weimar Republic. Utilizing his political acumen, Hitler was able to quickly gain support of several powerful conservative figures, including the industrialist Gustav Krupp and General Erich Ludendorff. This support allowed for his quick rise to power and enabled the Nazi party to emerge as a major political force.
Nazi Social Policy
Once in power, Hitler quickly began to implement social programmes to promote his racial views. These included laws to strip Jews of civil rights, expelling Jewish citizens from Germany, and imposing stringent labour and education requirements for both Jews and non-Jews alike. Furthermore, Hitler set forth a massive militarization program to build up Germany’s military in preparation for a world conflict.
Final Years
In the last years of his rule, Hitler had plunged Europe into a devastating world war. He continued to spread his ideology of German superiority and felt no remorse for the devastating human cost the war had caused. Rejected by the German people towards the end of the war, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in April 1945.
Analysis of Impact
Though Hitler’s influences and influences on him varied during his life, it was ultimately his fervent belief in German racial superiority that allowed him to gain power, influence, and acceptance among the people of Germany. It was his belief in his country and in himself that enabled him to rise to a leadership position and to implement his policy of discrimination and genocide. Hitler was able to manipulate a desperate people into seeing him as their savior at a time when they had little hope, and his influence has had an everlasting impact on the world.
Techniques of Control
One of the key strategies Adolf Hitler used to maintain and expand his control was propaganda. Understanding the importance of visual tools and the power of suggestion, he developed a sophisticated propaganda campaign that was designed to shape the narrative of his regime both domestically and abroad. Hitler also used terror to instill fear in members of the population and to stop potential opposition from speaking out against him. Nazi stormtroopers, or SA, were used to intimidate and suppress any potential uprisings against his regime.
Secret Police
Adolf Hitler also created the Geheime Staatspolizei, or the Gestapo, in 1933. This secret police organisation was used to keep tabs on the German population and to crack down on any signs of opposition or disloyalty. The Gestapo used oppressive tactics such as wiretaps, informers, and surveillance to keep citizens in line. They also operated concentration camps and extermination centres, where thousands of Jews, dissidents, and other “undesirables” perished.
Personal Legacy
Hitler has been widely condemned as one of the most despised figures in human history. His legacy is defined by war, death, and destruction. He is a symbol of hatred and violent oppression, and his actions resulted in the deaths of millions of innocent people. In efforts to not repeat the mistakes of the past, his life remains a harsh reminder of the dangerous potential of unchecked power and extremism.
Post-War Consequences
The aftermath of World War II saw the world divided between East and West, with the totalitarian Soviet Union emerging as a significant force in the East, and the United States as the chief guarantor of liberty in the West. The horrors of Nazi Germany would only deepen these divisions and provide a tragic backdrop for the Cold War that would follow, with both sides accusing the other of fascism and communism.
Conclusion
The impact of Adolf Hitler’s life, both in terms of his influences and his subsequent influence on the world, cannot be understated. As one of the most notorious dictators in human history, Hitler has left an indelible mark on the world. His clear ideological goals and a willingness to any means necessary to accomplish them left an inerasable scar on the history of the world.
