Early Life (1889–1913)
Birth: Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary (now Austria).
Family: His father, Alois Hitler, was a strict customs official; his mother, Klara, was gentle and loving.
Childhood: He had a troubled relationship with his father, and after his father died in 1903, Hitler became more withdrawn.
Artistic Ambitions: He moved to Vienna in hopes of becoming an artist but was rejected twice by the Academy of Fine Arts.
Poverty & Ideology: While in Vienna, he lived in shelters and developed strong nationalist and anti-Semitic views—partly influenced by the city's political climate.
World War I (1914–1918)
Moved to Germany: In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany.
War Service: When WWI broke out, he joined the German army, serving as a messenger on the Western Front.
Medals: He was wounded twice and awarded the Iron Cross for bravery.
After the War: Germany’s defeat deeply affected him. He blamed Jews and Marxists for the loss—a belief that shaped his future politics.
Rise of the Nazi Party (1919–1933)
Political Involvement: In 1919, Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party, which he later transformed into the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party).
1923 Beer Hall Putsch: He attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government in Munich but failed and was arrested.
Prison Time: In prison, he wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), outlining his ideology—Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, and lebensraum (expansion of territory).
Post-Prison: The Nazis grew in popularity during the economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Becoming Chancellor & Dictator (1933–1939)
Chancellor Appointment: In January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany.
Consolidating Power: After the Reichstag Fire, he pushed the Enabling Act, giving him dictatorial powers.
Nazi Regime Begins: Political opponents were eliminated, civil liberties were suspended, and Germany became a totalitarian state.
Anti-Semitic Laws: Hitler enacted Nuremberg Laws to strip Jews of rights.
Military Buildup: He violated the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding the German military and expanding territory (e.g., annexing Austria in 1938).
World War II & The Holocaust (1939–1945)
War Begins: In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare World War II.
Blitzkrieg: Hitler’s army used fast, brutal tactics to conquer much of Europe, including France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Turning Point: His invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 backfired, leading to heavy German losses.
The Holocaust: Hitler led the systematic genocide of 6 million Jews, along with millions of others (Roma, disabled people, Poles, etc.) in concentration and death camps.
Defeat Looms: After the failed Soviet campaign and Allied invasions (like D-Day in 1944), Germany was pushed back.
Death (1945)
Fall of Berlin: As Soviet forces closed in on Berlin in April 1945, Hitler hid in his bunker.
Suicide: On April 30, 1945, he committed suicide alongside his longtime partner (and wife for one day), Eva Braun.
Aftermath: Nazi Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, ending WWII in Europe.
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