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Birth of a Leader
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889. Born in the town of Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary, Hitler was the fourth of six children. His parents were Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl, Alois's third wife. https://www.biography.com/dictator/adolf-hitler -
Vienna Academy of Art
Due to the death of his father, Hitler decided to move to Vienna with the aim of attending the Vienna Academy of Art. But, his application was rejected due to his inability to provide a school certificate. Without a steady source of income, Hitler struggled to survive in Vienna, undertaking in many menial jobs. During this time, he started to develop anti semitic beliefs. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/hitlers-rise-and-fall-timeline -
Hitler's Introduction to War
In the beginning of the First World War outbreak, Hitler volunteered to join the German army (the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment). During this time, he stood out as an excellent soldier, leading his promotion to corporal and receiving the Iron Cross for being a runner on the western front. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/adolf-hitler-key-dates -
Nazi Party
After his ultimately successful run in the German military as a political officer, Hitler decided to go for the position of leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party). He easily earned the title, making instant reforms. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/adolf-hitler-key-dates -
Mein Kampf
On November 11, 1923, Hitler was arrested and found guilty for treason and was sentenced for five years in prison. He spent this time incarcerated writing 'Mein Kampf' ('My Struggle') which is an autobiography that describes the process of his antisemitic thought and his political ideology. He also laid out his future plans for Germany in it. https://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/kampf.htm -
Dictatorship of Germany
Hitler easily won the German Presidential Election, mainly for his pledges to fight against Communism. This causes him to gain the title of Fuhrer, making him the strongest German of that time. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-becomes-fuhrer -
The Holocausts Begin
From 1941 to May 1945, Nazi Germany and their collaborators had murdered six million European Jews as part of a systematic plan of genocide—the Holocaust. https://www.ushmm.org/learn/timeline-of-events/1942-1945 -
Hitler Commits Suicide
On April 30, 1945, Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and proceeding to shoot himself in the head, fearful of being captured by enemy troops. His body was carried to a bomb crater near the Reich Chancellery, where his remains were doused with gasoline and burned. Hitler was 56 years old at the time of his death. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide
