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Adolf Hitler: The Dictatorship That Changed the World Hitler’s Early Life: A propagandist, Nazi, and one of the catalysts of The Holocaust- Hitler was a menace to society. He was born to Alois and Klara on April 20th 1889, in Braunau, Austria. Growing up Hitler hated his father and his harsh criticisms, thus leading him to be a troubled child. In 1905 he dropped out of school, and tried to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist. After being denied acceptance into two art schools in Vienna and death of his mother at eighteen Hitler reached his all time low. It is believed that he developed his nationalistic and anti-Semitic views during these rough years of his life. In hopes of still becoming an artist, Hitler decided to move to Vienna. With no parents or formal training, Hilter made his living doing various lower-class jobs. During WWI Hitler enlisted in the German army, becoming a low ranked solider. This is where his strong political views towards Jews continued to grow out of control.

The End of WWI: WWI ended with the Allies (Great Britain, The United States, Italy, and France) defeating the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire). To have a somewhat “peaceful” ending to the war the allies (not including the US) and Germany signed The Treaty of Versailles on June 28th 1919 in France. The treaty included the formation of the League of Nations and the war reparations that Germany had to pay such as: not being able to build up an army, taking the blame for the war (the war guilt clause), and the recognition of Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary as independent countries. Due to the reparations Germany’s economy was left crippled and forced into inflation. Seeing Germany in such a dismantled state led Hitler (and other Germans) to disobey the treaty and unknowingly lay the platform down for the start of WWII. Along with the US taking on isolationism, the failure of the League of Nations, and the breaking up of empires WWII was well on its way.

This is a passage from the Treaty of Versailles stating Germany’s War reparations. Treaty of Versailles (1919) “The German government recognizes the right of the Allied and Associated Powers to bring before military tribunals persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and customs of war. Such persons shall, if found guilty, be sentenced to punishments laid down by law. This provision will apply notwithstanding any proceedings or prosecution before a tribunal in Germany or in the territory of her allies. The German Government shall hand over to the Allied and Associated Powers, or to such one of them as shall so request, all persons accused of having committed an act in violation of the laws and customs of war, who are specified either by name or by the rank, office or employment which they held under the German authorities.”
 * // Article 228. //**

In this excerpt of The Treaty of Versailles Germany is being told that if anyone violates this treaty they can be tried, and if found guilty, be sentenced to punishment. The excerpt is showing us how tight of a leash Germany was on after WWI.

This is a passage from one of Hitler’s anti-Semitic speeches. Adolf Hitler: Munich -- Speech of July 28, 1922 ". . . IT IS a battle which began nearly 120 years ago, at the moment when the Jew was granted citizen rights in the European States. The political emancipation of the Jew was the beginning of an attack of delirium. For thereby they were given full citizen rights and equality to a people which was much more clearly and definitely a race apart than all others, that has always formed and will form a State within the State. That did not happen perhaps at one blow, but it came about as things come about today and always do come about: first a little finger, then a second and a third, and so bit by bit until at last a people that in the eighteenth century still appeared completely alien had won equal citizen-rights with ourselves."

In this excerpt of Hitler’s speech in Munich, Germany he is clearly stating that he doesn’t like Jews and thinks they shouldn’t be allowed citizenship. Hitler feels like Jews were living as equals in Europe when he thought they were inferior to his “race.” In Hitler’s eyes he thought that Jews came to Germany with a plan to take over and they were doing so slowly but surely.

The Rise of the Nazi Party: After the war, Hitler was a wounded soldier who began to find an interest in politics. In the summer of 1919, he joined the German Workers Party and became a prominent figure in the advancement of the party. In July 1921, the party changed its name to the National Socialist Germans Worker Party (Nazi). Hitler became the Nazi’s chairperson, head speaker, and Der Führer (leader). Within a few months the party gathered around 3,000 members. Hitler was now advocating for the expulsion of all Jews. The climax in the Nazi party’s growth occurred on November 8-9th, 1923. Hitler tried to exploit the Weimar republic in an attempt to take over the Bavarian government in a coup known as the “Beer Hall Putsch.” Hitler’s plan quickly failed and resulted in him being jailed for eight months. During this time in jail he wrote his political autobiography //Mein Kampf// (//My Struggle//), which stated his Lebensraum and Nazism beliefs.

Hitler: Chancellor to Dictator During Hitler’s incarceration the Nazi party had fallen apart. Immediately following his release he began to rebuild his empire with the help of party loyalists like Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels. In 1925, the ban on the Nazis was lifted allowing Hitler to move up higher in politics and the mainstream. In 1929, during the world’s economic crisis and the Great Depression that followed, the Nazi party started to gain popularity. Hitler was able to exploit the government system in place and convince Germans that joining the Nazi party was their last hope. With no other place to turn many joined the organization. In 1932, Hitler ran for president of the German republic, barely losing to Paul Von Hindenburg. Though he lost, the Nazi party made a big statement and on January 30th 1933 Hindenburg appointed Hitler //Reichskanzler// (Reich chancellor, or prime minister) of Germany. With his new position Hitler quickly moved to become known as the dictator of Germany and before people knew it the Third Reich or Nazi Germany was born.

Additional Points of Research: The swastika- Before Hilter turned the swastika, a cross with hooked arms, into a symbol of hatred it was used in the Buddhist religion. It resembled good fortune, love, and prosperity. Hitler knowingly chose the symbol to represent the Nazi party so he could twist it and turn it into the complete opposite of what it actually was.  Führer- The word Führer is the German word for leader. When the Germans and Nazi followers were referring to Hitler as their Führer they were praising him as if he were their God.  Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) - The Kristallnacht occurred on November 9th, 1938. Jewish properties, synagogues, and businesses were attacked and looted through by government hired gangs. About 10,000 Jews were kidnapped and about 2,000 were killed. This night was the start of a new low for the Nazis leaving Jews with an even more difficult life in Germany  Anti-Semitic- Hitler didn’t like Jews and did anything he could to get rid of them- this is anti- Semitism. If you hate someone just because they are Jewish you are anti-Semitic.  Hitler Youth Groups- the Hitler Jugend (HJ) was a Nazi youth group, from ages 10-18, that instilled Nazi beliefs like “racial purification” into the minds of young adults. Being involved in these organizations at the time seemed like the golden ticket to education and being in Hitler’s good graces.

Works Cited "Treaty of Versailles." //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

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 ItemID=WE52&iPin=lbio0087&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 18, 2011). Burg, David F. "Hitler Jugend (HJ)." //Encyclopedia of Student and Youth Movements//. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1998. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

 ItemID=WE53&iPin=student00322&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 18, 2011). Hasday, Judy L. "'The Rise of the Third Reich'." //The Holocaust//, Great Disasters: Reforms & Ramifications. Philadephia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2001. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

 ItemID=WE53&iPin=GDHC03&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 18, 2011). Horvitz, Leslie Alan, and Christopher Catherwood. "Hitler, Adolf." //Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide.// New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

 ItemID=WE53&iPin=EWCG234&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 15, 2011). Public, Domain. "Munich -- Speech of July 28, 1922." //Munich -- Speech of July 28, 1922// (2001): 1. //History Reference Center//. EBSCO. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Various. "Treaty of Versailles." //Treaties Conventions, International Acts, Protocols and Agreements, 1910-23,// Vol. III, p. 3331. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> ItemID=WE52&iPin=E09270&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 17, 2011).