Adolf Hitler – Biography Notes
Basic Information:
Full Name: Adolf Hitler
Born: April 20, 1889 – Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary
Died: April 30, 1945 – Berlin, Germany (suicide)
Nationality: Austrian by birth; later German
Political Party: National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party)
Early Life:
Born to Alois Hitler (customs officer) and Klara Hitler.
Poor academic record; aspired to become an artist, but was rejected by Vienna
Academy of Fine Arts.
Lived in poverty in Vienna; developed anti-Semitic and nationalist views during
this time.
Served in World War I as a soldier in the German Army; awarded Iron Cross for
bravery.
Rise in Politics:
Joined the German Workers’ Party in 1919 → later renamed it to the Nazi Party.
Known for powerful oratory and propaganda.
Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in prison after the failed Beer Hall Putsch
(1923).
o Book outlined his ideology: anti-Semitism, Aryan supremacy, anti-
communism, and Lebensraum (living space for Germans).
Rise to Power:
Capitalized on:
o Economic crisis (Great Depression)
o Weak Weimar Republic
o Fear of communism
Appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933.
Became dictator (Führer) in 1934 after President Hindenburg’s death.
Nazi Rule (1933–1945):
Key Policies:
Totalitarian regime: Censorship, propaganda, secret police (Gestapo)
Anti-Semitic laws:
o Nuremberg Laws (1935): Stripped Jews of citizenship
o Kristallnacht (1938): Mass violence against Jewish businesses and
synagogues
Militarization and defiance of Treaty of Versailles
Youth indoctrination: Hitler Youth, League of German Girls
Economic & Social:
Massive public works (e.g., Autobahn construction)
Unemployment decreased
Persecution of Jews, Roma, disabled people, communists, and other minorities
World War II (1939–1945):
Started the war by invading Poland on Sept 1, 1939.
Occupied much of Europe through blitzkrieg (lightning war).
Axis powers: Germany, Italy, Japan
Invaded Soviet Union in 1941 (Operation Barbarossa)
Declared war on USA after Pearl Harbor
The Holocaust:
Systematic genocide of 6 million Jews, along with Roma, disabled people, and
others.
Use of concentration camps (e.g., Auschwitz, Dachau)
One of the worst crimes against humanity in history.
Downfall and Death:
Germany began losing war from 1943 onwards.
Allies invaded Normandy (D-Day) in 1944.
Soviet Army entered Berlin in April 1945.
Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, in his Berlin bunker.
Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945 → End of World War II in Europe.
Legacy:
Symbol of totalitarianism, fascism, and genocide.
His regime caused World War II, resulting in over 70 million deaths globally.
Studied as a warning against dictatorship, racism, and extremism.
