Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany from 1933 until 1945. He was born in 1889 in Braunau am Inn, a town in Austria-Hungary. His early life included school in Austria and later years in Vienna and Munich. During World War I, he served as a soldier in the German army. After the war ended in 1918, Germany faced serious economic and political problems.

Hitler became involved in politics in the early 1920s. He joined a group that later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, often called the Nazi Party. The word national socialist was the party’s name, but its ideas were different from socialism used elsewhere. Hitler became the party’s main speaker and leader. He used speeches to gain support by promising national strength and order.

In 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. A chancellor is the head of government. Soon after, he gained more power and ended Germany’s democratic system. Political parties other than the Nazi Party were banned. Germany became a one-party state under Hitler’s control. This type of system is called a dictatorship, meaning power is held by one ruler.

The government under Hitler followed an ideology known as Nazism. Nazism was a form of fascism that emphasized strong nationalism, obedience to the state, and strict control of society. The Nazi government used propaganda, which is information used to influence people, to control public opinion. It also used police forces to silence opposition.

During Hitler’s rule, Germany began to expand its territory. In 1939, German forces invaded Poland. This action led Britain and France to declare war on Germany, starting World War II. Hitler led Germany through the early years of the war. German forces occupied large parts of Europe before being pushed back by Allied armies.

In the final years of the war, Germany suffered major defeats. In 1945, Allied forces entered Germany. Adolf Hitler died in April 1945 in Berlin, shortly before the war in Europe ended. His rule and actions had lasting effects on Germany and world history.