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Adolf Hitler

Why was Adolf Hitler significant?

How did adolf hitler rise to power, why did adolf hitler start world war ii, who were adolf hitler’s most important officers, how did adolf hitler die.

Operation Barbarossa, German troops in Russia, 1941. Nazi German soldiers in action against the Red Army (Soviet Union) at an along the frontlines in the early days of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941. World War II, WWII

Adolf Hitler

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  • Public Broadcasting Service - American Experience - Hitler and Goebbels: A Deadly Partnership
  • Spartacus Educational - Biography of Adolf Hitler
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Holocaust Encyclopedia - Adolf Hitler: Early Years, 1889–1913
  • The National WWII Museum - How Did Adolf Hitler Happen?
  • BBC - iWonder - Adolf Hitler: Man and Monster
  • Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of Adolf Hitler
  • Adolf Hitler - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • Adolf Hitler - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
  • Table Of Contents

Hitler was of great historical importance—a term that does not imply a positive judgment—because his actions changed the course of the world. He was responsible for starting World War II , which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 million people. It also led to the extension of the Soviet Union ’s power in eastern, central, and Balkan Europe, enabled a communist movement to eventually achieve control in China , and marked the decisive shift of power away from western Europe and toward the United States and the Soviet Union. In addition, Hitler was responsible for the Holocaust , the state-sponsored killing of six million Jews and millions of others.

Hitler’s rise to power traces to 1919, when he joined the German Workers’ Party that became the Nazi Party . With his oratorical skills and use of propaganda, he soon became its leader. Hitler gained popularity nationwide by exploiting unrest during the Great Depression , and in 1932 he placed second in the presidential race. Hitler’s various maneuvers resulted in the winner, Paul von Hindenburg , appointing him chancellor in January 1933. The following month the Reichstag fire occurred, and it provided an excuse for a decree overriding all guarantees of freedom. Then on March 23 the Enabling Act was passed, giving full powers to Hitler. When Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, the chancellorship and the presidency were merged, and Hitler secured his position as Führer (“leader”).

Hitler had an overriding ambition for territorial expansion, which was largely driven by his desire to reunify the German peoples and his pursuit of Lebensraum , “living space” that would enable Germans to become economically self-sufficient and militarily secure. Such goals were greeted with support by many within Germany who resented the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles , which had ended World War I . Through various means he was able to annex Austria and Czechoslovakia with little resistance in 1938–39. Then on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland , which had been guaranteed French and British military support should such an event occur. Two days later both countries declared war on Germany, launching World War II .

A key figure of Hitler’s inner circle was Joseph Goebbels , minister of propaganda and a fervent follower whom Hitler selected to succeed him as chancellor. However, Goebbels only held the post for one day before committing suicide. Also notable were Hermann Göring , who was a leader of the Nazi Party and one of the primary architects of the Nazi police state in Germany; Heinrich Himmler , who was second in power to Hitler; Joachim von Ribbentrop , foreign minister and chief negotiator of various treaties; Martin Bormann , who was one of Hitler’s closest lieutenants; and Walther Funk , an economist who served as president of the Reichsbank.

As Soviet troops entered the heart of Berlin , Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, in his underground bunker. Although there is some speculation about the manner of his death, it is widely believed that he shot himself. Eva Braun , whom he had recently married, also took her own life. According to his wishes, both bodies were burned and buried. Almost immediately, however, conspiracy theories began. The Soviets initially claimed that they were unable to confirm Hitler’s death and later spread rumors that he was alive. According to subsequent reports, however, the Soviets recovered his burnt remains, which were identified through dental records. Hitler’s body was secretly buried before being exhumed and cremated, with the ashes scattered in 1970.

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hitler essay 200 words

Adolf Hitler (born April 20, 1889, Braunau am Inn , Austria—died April 30, 1945, Berlin , Germany) was the leader of the Nazi Party (from 1920/21) and chancellor ( Kanzler ) and Führer of Germany (1933–45). His worldview revolved around two concepts: territorial expansion and racial supremacy . Those themes informed his decision to invade Poland , which marked the start of World War II , as well as the systematic killing of six million Jews and millions of others during the Holocaust.

Hitler’s father, Alois (born 1837), was illegitimate . For a time he bore his mother’s name, Schicklgruber, but by 1876 he had established his family claim to the surname Hitler. Adolf never used any other surname.

After his father’s retirement from the state customs service, Adolf Hitler spent most of his childhood in Linz , the capital of Upper Austria . It remained his favourite city throughout his life, and he expressed his wish to be buried there. Alois Hitler died in 1903 but left an adequate pension and savings to support his wife and children. Although Hitler feared and disliked his father, he was a devoted son to his mother, who died after much suffering in 1907. With a mixed record as a student, Hitler never advanced beyond a secondary education . After leaving school, he visited Vienna , then returned to Linz, where he dreamed of becoming an artist. Later, he used the small allowance he continued to draw to maintain himself in Vienna. He wished to study art, for which he had some faculties , but he twice failed to secure entry to the Academy of Fine Arts. For some years he lived a lonely and isolated life, earning a precarious livelihood by painting postcards and advertisements and drifting from one municipal hostel to another. Hitler already showed traits that characterized his later life: loneliness and secretiveness, a bohemian mode of everyday existence, and hatred of cosmopolitanism and of the multinational character of Vienna.

In 1913 Hitler moved to Munich . Screened for Austrian military service in February 1914, he was classified as unfit because of inadequate physical vigour; but when World War I broke out, he petitioned Bavarian King Louis III to be allowed to serve, and one day after submitting that request, he was notified that he would be permitted to join the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. After some eight weeks of training, Hitler was deployed in October 1914 to Belgium , where he participated in the First Battle of Ypres . He served throughout the war, was wounded in October 1916, and was gassed two years later near Ypres . He was hospitalized when the conflict ended. During the war, he was continuously in the front line as a headquarters runner; his bravery in action was rewarded with the Iron Cross , Second Class, in December 1914, and the Iron Cross, First Class (a rare decoration for a corporal), in August 1918. He greeted the war with enthusiasm, as a great relief from the frustration and aimlessness of civilian life. He found discipline and comradeship satisfying and was confirmed in his belief in the heroic virtues of war .

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Essay on Hitler

Students are often asked to write an essay on Hitler in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Hitler

Introduction.

Adolf Hitler, born in Austria in 1889, was a significant figure in world history. He is known as the leader of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945.

Rise to Power

World war ii.

Under Hitler’s leadership, Germany started World War II in 1939. He aimed to establish a new order based on absolute Nazi German hegemony.

End of Hitler

Hitler’s aggressive policies and expansionist ideology are often seen as the causes of the start of World War II. He died by suicide in his bunker in Berlin on 30 April 1945.

250 Words Essay on Hitler

Early life and rise to power, hitler’s ideology and the holocaust.

Hitler’s ideology was a toxic blend of anti-Semitism, Aryan racial superiority, and totalitarianism. His extremist views led to the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews, which stands as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of hate and bigotry. Hitler’s Mein Kampf, a manifesto outlining his political ideology and plans for Germany, became a cornerstone of the Nazi regime.

World War II and Hitler’s Downfall

Hitler’s aggressive foreign policies and expansionist ideology were significant causes of World War II. His invasion of Poland in 1939 triggered the war, and his militaristic tactics resulted in the occupation of several European countries. However, the tide turned against Hitler after the failed invasion of the Soviet Union and the entry of the United States into the war. In 1945, with Allied forces closing in, Hitler died by suicide in his bunker in Berlin.

This brief overview of Hitler’s life and impact underscores the dangers of unchecked power, extremist ideologies, and the manipulation of public sentiment, lessons that remain pertinent today.

500 Words Essay on Hitler

Adolf Hitler, a name synonymous with tyranny and destruction, was the Führer and Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945. His policies precipitated World War II and the Holocaust, leading to the genocide of six million Jews. Hitler’s actions and ideology, steeped in anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and Aryan supremacy, have left an indelible scar on human history.

Early Life and Political Inception

Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria, Hitler’s early life was marked by conflict and hardship. His father, a stern and volatile man, was often at odds with Hitler’s artistic aspirations. Hitler moved to Munich in 1913, and his life took a decisive turn with the outbreak of World War I, where he served with distinction. Post-war Germany, laden with the punitive Treaty of Versailles, was fertile ground for Hitler’s extremist views. He joined the German Workers’ Party in 1919, which later evolved into the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party), and he became its leader in 1921.

Hitler’s Regime

Once in power, Hitler swiftly dismantled Germany’s democratic institutions, establishing a totalitarian regime. The Reichstag fire in 1933 provided him the pretext to enact the Enabling Act, granting him dictatorial powers. Hitler pursued aggressive foreign policies, defying the Treaty of Versailles, and initiated World War II with the invasion of Poland in 1939.

The Holocaust

Hitler’s most abhorrent act was the systematic genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust. His virulent anti-Semitism, articulated in ‘Mein Kampf’, became state policy with the implementation of the “Final Solution” – the extermination of the Jewish people.

Downfall and Legacy

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Essay on Adolf Hitler | Adolf Hitler Essay for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by sastry

Essay on Adolf Hitler: Such was Hitler’s determination and love for his motherland, that he went all out to achieve it. Adolf Hitler was born on 20th April, 1889 at an inn in Austria, to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. He had 5 siblings, out of which the older ones died in infancy. When Hitler was three years old, the family moved to Passan in Germany. In 1895, the family acquired a small plot in Hafeld. The farming failed and in 1898, the family shifted permanently to Leondig. – An Unparalleled Leader

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Essay on Adolf Hitler

Long Essay on Adolf Hitler 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Adolf Hitler of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Hitler’s relations with his father were not good. At 8 years of age, he took singing lessons and sang in Church choir. He thought of becoming a priest. But the death of his younger brother transformed him into a depressed introvert boy. His father wanted him to work in customs like him, ignoring his desire to become an artist. Alois passed away in 1903 and Hitler joined another school.

At the start of World War I, Hitler served as a dispatch runner in the Bavarian army. He was felicitated with the rare awards of Iron Cross, First Class. He described the war as ‘the greatest of all experiences’.

His patriotism for Germany grew and he was shocked at Germany’s capitulation in 1918. He joined the German Workers Party (DAP) in 1919, which was renamed as National Socialist DAP or NSDAP. Hitler himself designed the party symbol of a ‘Swastika’. He gave speeches against Treaty of Versailles, Marxists and Jews. In 1921, he became the party’s chairman. In 1932, Hitler was elected as the Chancellor of Germany.

One of the main concepts of Nazism was ‘Racial hygiene’. Marriage between Jews and non-Jews was not permitted and ‘non-Aryans’ were deprived of the benefits of German citizenship. Between 1939 and 1945, around 6 million Jews were murdered. It is commonly referred to as the Holocaust. It amounted to two-thirds of Jewish population in Europe.

In 1938, Hitler signed the Munich Treaty which attached Sudetenland districts to Germany. In 1941, Hitler violated the non-aggression pact with Stalin, invading Soviet Union. Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour, Germany was face-to-face with the other three powers—US, Britain and Soviet Union. After 1942, Germany suffered several defeats.

On 29th April, 1945, Hitler married Eva Braun. He was informed soon of the assassination of Italian dictator Mussolini. So, terrified of surrendering to enemies, he and Eva committed suicide on 30th April, 1945.

“Do not compare yourself to others. If you do so, you are insulting yourself ” -Adolf Hitler

While we loathe at Hitler for his genocide of millions of innocent people, we can also take a leaf or two, out of his positive side. There were a number of rare qualities in him, which we can certainly imbibe.

He had excellent leadership and oratorical skills. When he spoke, everybody used to listen and become charged. He never used to be tired of travelling from town-to-town and gave several speeches in a single day. He united a depressed and demoralised nation. He was zealous and wanted his nation to have a mission. He built several freeways. Under him, the V 2 technology to send rockets into space, was invented. He banned the use of atomic weapons, smoking, alcohol and meat. He infact, freed many small nations from the rule of Britain and France.

Even though, we can’t go back in time to correct his mistakes, we can definitely take inspiration from his positive attributes. Hitler was a villain, no doubt, but there was a leader in him, which few have acknowledged. There was never someone like him in the annals of world history and perhaps won’t ever be again in future.

Adolf Hitler Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

  • Introvert – a shy person
  • Felicitated – to compliment upon a happy event
  • Capitulation – a treaty or agreement by which subjects of one country residing or travelling in another are extended extra territorial rights or special privileges
  • Assassination – to kill suddenly or secretively, especially a politically prominent person, murder premeditately and cherously
  • Loathe – to feel disgust or intense aversion for, abhor
  • Genocide – the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group
  • Imbibe – assimilate
  • Oratorical – of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an orator or oratory
  • Attributes – something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, group, etc., a quality, character or property
  • Annals – a record of events, especially a yearly record, usually in chronological order
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Home / Essay Samples / History / Adolf Hitler / Adolf Hitler’s Rise: An Examination of Historical Factors

Adolf Hitler's Rise: An Examination of Historical Factors

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  • Topic: Adolf Hitler , Dictatorship

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