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Adolf Hitler and World War II

Before becoming the chancellor, and eventually dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler was a normal child just like any of us. Born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, and eventually relocating to the town of Linz, Adolf Hitler was the son of a minor customs official. The question of where Adolf got his brutal nature is answered by the fact that his father was said to be a very demanding and hateful parent. Adolf did not do well in school, in fact; he dropped out of his secondary school in 1905, when he was only a mere fifteen years old. He then decided that he wanted to be an artist, but when he applied for Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna with paintings, he was denied, twice. In 1907, the mother who he had idolized passed away, soon after; he again relocated to Vienna, trying to aspire to his dreams of becoming an artist. During this time, he realized the hatred being shared among Germans toward Jews, and he himself also began to see Jews as a threat to Germany.

In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich. People believe he did this to avoid becoming part of the Austrian army. This changed at the start of World War I, when Hitler enlisted himself in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. It is said that his time turned his views towards nationalism, having been on the front lines and eventually making his way to coropal. He was injured in 1916, but remained with his team until around 1920, which is when he left the regiment to work with full time propoganda.

The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I. The Treaty stated that Germany was fully responsible for the war. The treaty stated that Germany's army not be able to have over 100,000 men in its army, no reserves, conscripts, tanks, aircraft, or general staff were allowed. Their navy was limited to coastal defense force. Germany had to also pay a large sum of money, that was not specified by this treaty, but was high enough that they wouldn't be able to pay, for damages caused. Historians believe that this treaty was a direct result of World War II, because it was, "Too harsh to conciliate Germany and too soft to restrain it." The treaty was also never really enforced. Mainly because France wanted strict consequences, and Britain wanted appeasement and revision to the treaty. The Nazi's were about to rise, and World War II was looming closer and closer.

In 1921, Hitler was a speaker on the streets, assulting Germany's enimies with his harsh words. In 1923, he led the Munich Beer Hall Butsch, trying to gain control of the Bavarian government. He failed, and went to court, and sentence to five years in prison, although he only served about nine months of that sentence. While serving his sentence, he wrote the book "Mein Kampf" or "My Struggle." In this book, he explained his hatred towards Jews, and made Nazism sound better than it actually was. Hitler said, "Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: //by defending myself against the Jews, I am fighting for the work of the Lord." In this quote from "Mein Kampf," he is saying that he feels he is pleasing God and defending Germany from Jews. That they are a threat. He also says about Jews that, "//The end is not only the end of the freedom of the peoples oppressed by the Jew, but also the end of this parasite upon the nations. After the death of his victim, the vampire sooner or later dies too." He is calling Jews a burden, parasite, and that Jews restrict peoples freedom. So instead, he is going to restrict their freedoms.

Hitler believed in anti-Semitism, which is hostility or hatred of Jews. During Hitler's reign of Dictator of Germany, Jews were not allowed service at hotels, shops were destryoed, they were not allowed in cinemas, and much more. Hitler saw it as his duty to God to eliminate Jews, he thought he was doing the world a deed. Hitler also serverely punished those housing Jews, often sending them to concentration camps, or killing them on the spot. Hitler also used the euthanasia program, which is also known as mercy killing. Hitler also had a hatred towwards those with disabilities. When this happens, they are infected with a deadly disease, and die painlessly. Also put in place was the Gestapo, a secret police organization who would often get information out of Jews secretly, and then kill them or send them to concentration camps. The Gestapo would torture those they caught. The SS worked with the Gestapo. They were led by Himmler. The Führer put the SS into place.

In 1932, Hitler ran for President of Germany, in which he lost to Paul von Hindenburg. The loss wasn't by a large margain, however. Hitler was slowly gaining popularity. After the loss in the 1932 election, Hindenburg deemed Hitler Reich Cahncellor. On March 23, 1933, Hilter passed the Enabling Act, which gave him four years of unarupted dictatorship. He soon abolished all German parties, exept for the Nazi's. He banned Jews from all government offices. Hitler and the Nazi's were teaming up, which was a horror for Jews. They would rise and rise, until they made it to the top.

Hitler had always been seeking to expand his territory, but when someone got in the way of it, Germany took action. In 1939, Germany lauched a Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war" on Britain. A blitzkrieg was tactic is a rapid attack with huge numbers of mechines and tanks, with an air force close by as well. Britain did survive this though, with the use of blackouts and a strong, "Never give up," point of view, which was enforced by a strong leader, Winston Churchill. Britain still standing was shocking to a lot of people, because this war tactic usually resulted in quick victores.

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi's were a group of horrible people. Killing Jews, the disable, and many others. But if we follow Winston Churchill and, "Never give up," we can make it through anything.

Citations

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Asch, Adrienne. "euthanasia." In Burch, Susan, ed. //Encyclopedia of American Disability History.// New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. //American History Online.// Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EADH0243&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 17, 2011).

Queen II, Edward L. "anti-Semitism." In Queen, Edward L., II, Stephen R. Prothero, and Gardiner H. Shattuck Jr., eds. //Encyclopedia of American Religious History//, Third Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EARR0033&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 17, 2011).

Curry, George Michael. "blitzkrieg." In Jeffries, John W., and Gary B. Nash, eds. //Encyclopedia of American History: The Great Depression and World War II, 1929 to 1945//, Revised Edition (Volume VIII). New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2010. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAHVIII035&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 17, 2011).