The other side of Hitler | Hitler and His Role in Germany

 

Hitler and His Role in Germany

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was born in Austria in 1889 and moved to Germany in 1913. He joined the German army during World War I and was wounded and decorated for his service. After the war, he became involved in politics and joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), also known as the Nazi Party, in 1919. He became the party's leader in 1921 and attempted a coup in Munich in 1923, which failed and landed him in prison. There he wrote his autobiography and political manifesto, Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which outlined his ideology of nationalism, racism, antisemitism, and totalitarianism.

Hitler gained popularity during the Great Depression by promising to restore Germany's economy, pride, and power. He was appointed as chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg in January 1933, after the Nazi Party won the largest share of votes in the 1932 elections. He quickly consolidated his power by abolishing democracy, banning other parties, suppressing civil liberties, and purging his opponents. He also established a cult of personality around himself as the Führer (Leader) of Germany and the savior of the German people.

Hitler pursued an aggressive foreign policy that aimed to create a Greater German Reich that would dominate Europe and beyond. He withdrew Germany from the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles, which had imposed harsh restrictions on Germany after World War I. He re-armed Germany and expanded its territory by annexing Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia. He also formed alliances with Italy and Japan, forming the Axis powers. In 1939, he invaded Poland, triggering World War II.

During the war, Hitler waged a brutal campaign of conquest and genocide against his enemies, especially Jews, Slavs, Roma, communists, and others he considered "inferior" or "undesirable". He ordered the systematic murder of about six million Jews and millions of other victims in concentration camps, death camps, ghettos, and mass shootings. He also exploited millions of forced laborers and prisoners of war for his war effort.

Hitler's war strategy was increasingly erratic and unrealistic as he faced defeats and setbacks from the Allied powers. He refused to surrender or negotiate peace, even when Germany was on the verge of collapse. He became more isolated and paranoid, blaming others for his failures and ordering futile attacks. He married his long-time mistress Eva Braun in his Berlin bunker on April 29, 1945. The next day, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. His body was burned by his loyalists to prevent capture by the Soviet troops who had surrounded Berlin.

Hitler's legacy is one of horror and infamy. He is widely regarded as one of the most evil and destructive leaders in history. His ideology and actions have been condemned and rejected by most civilized nations and people. His name and symbols are banned or restricted in many countries. He remains a subject of fascination and controversy for historians, psychologists, artists, and others who seek to understand his motives and impact on the world.