Hall of Fame: Mein Kampf – Hitler’s Rise to Power

Everyone knows about the tyrant nature of Adolf Hitler, but only some know how this kid who wanted to be a painter ended up to be the most despised figure in history, by becoming the chief architect of second world war, invading half of Europe and brainwashing millions of people. He became the leader of the Nazi Party in the 1920s and his anti-Semitic policies lead to the deaths of more than six million Jews during the Holocaust, making him one of the most infamous men in history.

Early Life: 

Adolf Hitler was born on 20 April 1889 in Austria to Alois Hitler and his wife, Klara. A major part of his childhood was spent in Linz, Austria. He had a strained relationship with his father due to Hitler’s refusal to behave at school. He is generally considered a mediocre student by many historians. Although his father wanted him to follow at a customs office, Hitler had other ideas. After his father’s death, a young Adolf Hitler paid the bills as a jobbing artist from 1910–14. He focused mainly on postcards and advertisements and earned enough to sustain a living, moving around hostels in Vienna. However, he failed the examination for the General School of Painting at the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts twice.

World War I:

In August 1914, during the World War I, Hitler was living in Munich and voluntarily enlisted in the Bavarian Army and served at the First Battle of Ypres. He was wounded at the Somme and was twice awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. On 15 October 1918, he was blinded in a mustard gas attack for some time and was hospitalized. Hitler learned of Germany’s defeat while he was there. He described the war as “the greatest of all experiences”, and was praised by his senior officers for his bravery. His wartime experience reinforced his German patriotism and his bitterness over the capitulation of Germany began to shape his ideology.

Entry into Politics:

Hitler first appeared on the political scene in Munich in 1919 as a speaker for the right-wing German Workers’ Party. By February 1921 he already became highly effective at crowd manipulation where he spoke to a crowd of over 6,000. To publicize the meeting, two truckloads of party supporters drove around Munich waving swastika flags and distributing leaflets. Hitler soon gained a reputation for his rowdy polemic speeches against the Treaty of Versailles, rival politicians, and especially against Marxists and Jews.

Hitler Rise to Power:

Hitler’s first official hold for power came in November 1923. He and his supporters attempted to hijack political power in Munich. Around 2,000 Nazis took part in the violent coup, better known as the Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch. But the coup collapsed and Hitler was arrested. He served only nine months of his five-year prison sentence at Landsberg Prison. Hitler wrote his autobiography “Mein Kampf” (or ‘My Struggle’) during his imprisonment. The Nazi party gradually grew in the late 1920s and by July 1932, it had transformed from a small, revolutionary party to the largest elected party in the Reichstag (German parliament).

Hitler established himself as a key player in the German politics by the 1930s and thus the consolidation of his power as a dictator happened quickly. The right-wing government was convinced that Hitler should rule Germany by decree. This was agreed by conservatives who were motivated by a desire to demolish the Communist Party. On 23 March 1933, the Reichstag was convinced by Hitler to vote for an Enabling Law that gave the cabinet (Hitler and the ministers) the power to issue legislation without any interference, thereby giving them dictatorial powers.

Hatred for Jews- The Holocaust:

Anti-Semitism was at the heart of Nazi ideology and inspired Hitler’s hatred of the Jews and prompted the creation of a system that led to the systematic rounding up and killing of six million people. His anti-Semitic views intensified following Germany’s defeat during the First World War, where he repeatedly stated his prophecy of 1939 was being fulfilled, namely, that a world war would bring about the annihilation of the Jewish race. People died in concentration camps and through mass executions.

Defeat and Death:

On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. Germany, Japan and Italy were fighting the Allied Powers of Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States. By March of 1945 the Allies had crushed the German army. By the last months of the Second World War, the prospect of losing the war became apparent, Hitler withdrew into his bunker in Berlin. Eva Braun  was his long-time companion. They on 29 April 1945 just one day before both of them committed suicide in the bunker.

Vishakha

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