Biography of Adolf Hitler
Introduction
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, a small town in Austria-
Hungary (now Austria), near the German border. He was the fourth of six children born
to Alois Hitler, a customs official, and Klara Pölzl, a devoted and gentle mother. From a
young age, Hitler showed interest in German nationalism, which would shape his later
ideologies. His early life was marked by a strict and authoritarian father, with whom he
had a strained relationship, and a deep attachment to his mother, who passed away when
he was only eighteen. Hitler's dream of becoming an artist led him to Vienna, where he
applied to the Academy of Fine Arts but was rejected twice. His years in Vienna exposed
him to various political ideologies and deepened his prejudices, especially anti-Semitic
and nationalist beliefs.
A Series of Events
In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany, to avoid military service in the Austro-
Hungarian army. When World War I broke out in 1914, he volunteered for the German
army and served with distinction, earning the Iron Cross for bravery. However, the defeat
of Germany in 1918 left him devastated and seeking someone to blame. Like many
Germans, he blamed the Jews and communists for Germany’s loss.
After the war, Hitler joined the German Workers' Party, a nationalist and anti-Semitic
group, which he quickly took over and renamed the National Socialist German Workers'
Party (Nazi Party). His oratory skills and propaganda drew many followers. In 1923, he
attempted a coup called the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, which failed and led to his
imprisonment. During his time in prison, he wrote *Mein Kampf*, a manifesto outlining
his ideology of Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, and his plans for Germany.
After his release, Hitler rebuilt the Nazi Party and gained support by exploiting economic
woes, national resentment, and promises of restoring Germany’s former glory. In 1933,
he was appointed Chancellor of Germany and soon consolidated power, eliminating
opposition and establishing a totalitarian regime. Under his leadership, Germany saw the
reoccupation of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria, and the invasion of
Czechoslovakia and Poland. These aggressive moves triggered World War II. Hitler's
policies led to the genocide of six million Jews in the Holocaust and the deaths of
millions more in the war.
Closing
Adolf Hitler's legacy is one of destruction and tyranny. His leadership plunged the world
into a devastating global conflict and caused immense human suffering. Despite early
achievements in economic recovery and military rebuilding, his obsession with racial
purity and territorial expansion brought unimaginable horrors. On April 30, 1945, facing
defeat, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin. His actions and ideologies left a
scar on human history, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of totalitarianism,
hatred, and unchecked power.
