Hitler: birth and education as contributors to his war views as well as the effects
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria. He was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler, Sr. and Klara Hitler. Hitler’s father, Alois, was a customs official while his mother, Klara, was a housekeeper. Hitler’s childhood was marked by poverty and conflict with his father, who died when Hitler was 14 years old. His mother died when he was 18 years old, which left him feeling alone and isolated.
Hitler’s early education was marked by poor performance and a lack of interest in academics. He was expelled from high school for poor grades and never completed his formal education. However, he did develop a keen interest in German history and culture, which would later play a significant role in his political views and ideologies.
Adolf Hitler’s experiences during World War I also played a crucial role in shaping his war views. He served as a soldier in the German army and was injured several times during the course of the war. He was also deeply affected by Germany’s defeat in the war and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany. These experiences instilled in him a deep sense of resentment towards the treaty and the people he believed were responsible for Germany’s defeat. He believed that the German people had been betrayed by their own leaders and that the treaty was a humiliation to the nation. His experiences in the war also gave him a belief in his own destiny, he saw himself as a savior of the German people. These events in World War I would ultimately fuel his aggressive foreign policies and his belief in a powerful and expansionist German state.. He was also deeply affected by Germany’s defeat in the war and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany. These experiences instilled in him a deep sense of resentment towards the treaty and the people he believed were responsible for Germany’s defeat.
Hitler’s political views began to take shape during the post-war years. He joined the German Workers’ Party (DAP) in 1919 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1923, he attempted to overthrow the German government in a failed coup, which led to his imprisonment. While in prison, he dictated the first volume of his political autobiography, “Mein Kampf,” which outlined his ideas for a totalitarian state and his belief in the supremacy of the Aryan race.
His ideas about race and the importance of national pride would become central to his war views. He believed in the concept of Lebensraum or “living space” for the German people, which would require the expansion of Germany’s territory through the conquest of other countries. He also believed in the extermination of groups he deemed inferior, such as Jews, homosexuals, and people with disabilities.
Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 marked the beginning of a new era in Germany and the world. He quickly consolidated power and began implementing his war views through aggressive military expansion and persecution of minority groups. The results of his actions were devastating, leading to the deaths of millions of people during World War II and the Holocaust.
Thus, Hitler’s birth and education were marked by poverty and conflict, which may have contributed to his feelings of resentment and desire for power. His experiences during World War I and the Treaty of Versailles also played a significant role in shaping his war views. His ideas about race and national pride, as outlined in “Mein Kampf,” would become central to his political ideology and ultimately lead to the devastation of World War II and the Holocaust.
Works Cited:
Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler.
Hitler: A Biography, Ian Kershaw.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William L. Shirer.
