Adolf Hitler
Nazi Germany was one of the catastrophic events that took place in political history. Adolphus Hitler, the founder and dictator of Nazi Germany, grew up in a small town under the German Confederation in Austria-Hungary. Hitler didn't have a good relationship with his father and always took up opposite ideas from his father. His father was an Austrian Republic Officer, so Hitler followed German Nationalism. Austria-Hungary was going through severe inner conflicts with Nationalism as it was filled with people from many minor ethnic groups who disagreed with each other's beliefs.
Hitler was big into Art; he wanted to be a painter, but after getting rejected from Art school twice, he turned bitter. In 1914, Hitler joined the German Army in The First World War, which he described as the best part of his life. War and the Military tough mindset gave him the content he didn't find in Pre-war Germany. Hitler showed exceptional skills on the battlefield and even achieved the 'Iron Cross,' the highest ranking medal in the German Army. However, Hitler was injured on the battlefield, so he couldn't fight till the end as he was sent to the hospital to recover.
After the surrender of Germany, followed by their defeat, Hitler was outraged by the outcome. Germany was in very poor condition after the war, and they had to pay over $800 million to the Allies. Hitler felt humiliated on behalf of the country and sore from taking revenge on the Jews and Communists he held responsible for the anti-propaganda that led to their defeat.
Hitler wanted to join the Army again, but due to the huge loss of German soldiers and British infiltration into the nation's economy, the Army didn't accept him back. Instead, Hitler was hired by the government to spy on the Communists as they were a rising threat to the government. Hitler did well at his task again, and his impressive communication skills earned him followers of his own.
He started his political party called Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (Nazi). Hitler proposed high speeches to the Nazi party regarding his beliefs of giving back Germany its previous glory. His followers, called the SA, were a rowdy crowd whom Hitler used to threaten, intimidate, and even kill other political personals he disagreed with. The SA was gaining fear amongst the German population, and no one wanted to mess with them.
With increasingly gaining power and support, Hitler marched on the streets of Munich to cause an uprising like Mussolini did in Rome, but his plan failed, and he was arrested. He was sent to trial for treason, but the judge had an early negotiation with Hitler and sentenced him to only five years in jail. Nevertheless, Hitler only spent nine months in prison, where he wrote the book, Mein Kampf.
Mein Kampf Summary
Mein Kampf, also known as the 'Book of Evil,' was published on 18th July 1925. Mein Kampf, which translates to "My Struggles" in English, was an autobiographical manifesto by Adolf Hitler. After being sentenced to prison in 1925, Hitler wrote the book to earn the money that he needed to run his party.
His politically passionate speech at the trial beforehand earned him a lot of supporters in Germany, who sent him encouraging letters to continue with his pursuit. That's when he got the idea of publishing a book that would benefit him economically and spread his sick message across to the civilians.
Many scholars regard the book as a passage about the Nazi concentration camps. In the first volume, Hitler recounts his childhood in the first few chapters. He gives anecdotes about his parents' relationship, his siblings, and his early education. Hitler claims that he was always a student in school and a profound leader. He further recalls his rough relationship with his father, who refused to see his talent for Art even when he was persistent. He further talks about his loving mother and a younger brother who passed away, leaving him alone and depressed, followed by his father.
After losing his family, Hitler lived on the streets selling paintings for a while. He was in and out of many orphan homes until he applied for an Art academy in Vienna, where he got rejected twice, and then finally joined the Army in WW1.
Moving on, Hitler explains his ideology of a hierarchy that he believed should be the most crucial chain in Germany. His hierarchy included different East European Slavic ethnical groups, with Aryans at the top and Jews at the bottom. Hitler had a very sick outlook toward the Jews, and he described them as liars and manipulative infiltrators who were secretly working against communists and behind Germany's fall. He went even as far as to claim that the Jews were trying to take over the entire political agenda and aimed for global domination.
On the other hand, he believed that pure-blooded Aryans should take over the Germans and that the state should be forbidden for the Jews to enter. Following the second volume of Mein Kampf, Hitler goes into a full detailed plan of envisioning his version of a free Germany. He divulges further into his hate for Jews and nationalism in Germany for other ethnic groups as he believed that only pure-blooded Aryans and German-born people should be allowed to stay in Germany.
He was completely against the rule of allowing foreign immigrants a grant to German citizenship upon immigration. According to him, only Aryans should be allowed to have German citizenship. At the same time, the German-born ethnic children could be Germany's subjects instead, while other ethnicities should be annihilated from the country.
Hitler then wrote about "The Versatility Treaty" and criticized the German leaders for agreeing to such horrible treatment of Germany. He then introduces his plan for severing the treaty and expanding Germany beyond the East German borders. He wanted an approach with the military establishment. He planned to take over the Polish and Russian territory to provide the Germans with more land to increase themselves.
Furthermore, he revealed forward his brutal plan of brutalizing and killing the existing ethnic groups who already resided in those lands. Many historians speculate that this is where Hitler's inhuman thesis for the 'Holocaust' came to life.
Hitler also encouraged the educational system to teach the Aryan German children the importance of "blood purity" and how they should only procreate with other Aryans to maintain a thriving Pure Aryan population.
Hitler ends the book by showing gratefulness to his fellow soldiers who died in the First World War while fighting for his country. He then directly regards his supporters and ensures them of giving back Germany its former glory. He states that he will move forward with his political party and fight against his enemies to establish his agenda of 'blood purity.'
Short Questions and Answers
Q: Who was the dictator of Nazi Germany?
A: Adolf Hitler.
Q: Where did Hitler grow up?
A: A small town in Austria-Hungary.
Q: What kind of relationship did Hitler have with his father?
A: It was poor; they often disagreed.
Q: What career did Hitler want to pursue in his youth?
A: He wanted to be a painter.
Q: How many times was Hitler rejected from art school?
A: Twice.
Q: When did Hitler join the German Army?
A: In 1914, during World War I.
Q: How did Hitler describe World War I?
A: As the best part of his life.
Q: What military award did Hitler receive?
A: The Iron Cross.
Q: Why did Hitler leave the battlefield in WWI?
A: He was injured and sent to the hospital.
Q: What happened to Germany after World War I?
A: It was defeated, poor, and forced to pay reparations.
Q: How much did Germany have to pay the Allies?
A: Over $800 million.
Q: Who did Hitler blame for Germany’s defeat?
A: Jews and Communists.
Q: What job did Hitler get after WWI?
A: Government spy on Communists.
Q: What political party did Hitler form?
A: The Nazi Party (NSDAP).
Q: What was the name of Hitler’s followers who intimidated others?
A: The SA (Sturmabteilung).
Q: Where did Hitler attempt an uprising?
A: Munich.
Q: What ended up happening to Hitler after his Munich revolt failed?
A: It failed, and Hitler was arrested.
Q: What crime was Hitler charged with?
A: Treason.
Q: How long was Hitler sentenced to prison?
A: Five years.
Q: How long did Hitler actually serve?
A: Nine months.
Q: What book did Hitler write in prison?
A: Mein Kampf.
Q: What does Mein Kampf mean in English?
A: "My Struggles."
Q: When was Mein Kampf published?
A: July 18, 1925.
Q: Why did Hitler write Mein Kampf?
A: To earn money and spread his ideology.
Q: What ethnic group did Hitler place at the top of his hierarchy?
A: Aryans.
Q: Which group did Hitler put at the bottom of his hierarchy?
A: Jews.
Q: What did Hitler accuse Jews of trying to do?
A: Take over politics and achieve global domination.
Q: Which treaty did Hitler strongly criticize in his book?
A: The Versailles Treaty.
Q: What was Hitler’s plan for people living in those lands?
A: Brutalize and kill them.
Q: What did Hitler want Aryan kids to learn in school?
A: Blood purity and only having children with other Aryans.
Q: What did Hitler’s ideology in Mein Kampf hint would happen later?
A: The Holocaust.
Q: What did Hitler say at the end of Mein Kampf?
A: Pledging to Germany's greatness.