Adolf Hitler

Early Life

• Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary
• Fourth of six children; three siblings died in infancy
• Moved frequently with family due to father's job
• Developed German nationalist ideas early on

Rise to Power

• Served in the German Army during WWI, receiving the Iron Cross
• Joined the German Workers' Party in 1919, later the Nazi Party
• Attempted a coup in 1923 (Beer Hall Putsch), sentenced to prison
• Wrote "Mein Kampf" during imprisonment
• Gained support by promoting nationalism and attacking the Treaty of Versailles

Political Career

Chancellor of Germany

• Appointed Chancellor on January 30, 1933
• Consolidated power through the Enabling Act of 1933
• Became Führer, combining the offices of Chancellor and President in 1934

Nazi Policies and WWII

• Implemented policies leading to rapid economic recovery
• Aggressive expansionist policies led to WWII
• Invaded Poland in 1939, starting WWII
• Directed military operations and was heavily involved in the Holocaust

The Holocaust

• Orchestrated the genocide of six million Jews and millions of others
• Considered Jews and other groups as "Untermenschen" (subhumans)
• Implementation of concentration and extermination camps

Personal Life and Ideology

• Cultivated a public image of a celibate, dedicated leader
• Had a relationship with Eva Braun, whom he married a day before their suicides
• Displayed anti-clerical views; used Christianity for political purposes

Decline and Fall

• War efforts faltered after defeats in the Soviet Union and North Africa
• Survived an assassination attempt in 1944 (20 July plot)
• Committed suicide on April 30, 1945, as Allied forces closed in on Berlin

Legacy

• Responsible for unprecedented destruction and human suffering
• WWII resulted in significant geopolitical changes worldwide
• Historians and biographers view him as the embodiment of "modern political evil"

Health

• Suffered from various health issues, including suspected Parkinson's disease
• Used a variety of drugs as prescribed by his personal physician

Influence and Propaganda

• Utilized films and media to foster a cult of personality
• Appearances in propagandistic films directed by Leni Riefenstahl

Key Events and Policies

• Enabling Act and consolidation of power
• Night of the Long Knives: purge of SA leadership
• Initiated WWII with the invasion of Poland
• Developed the ideology and infrastructure for the Holocaust

Death

• Committed suicide with Eva Braun on April 30, 1945
• Their bodies were burned to avoid capture by Soviet troops