1. Early Life and Background

  • Born in Austria in 1889, Hitler moved to Germany and served in World War I.

  • After the war, he was angry over Germany’s defeat and the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), which blamed Germany and demanded heavy reparations.

2. Entry into Politics

  • Hitler joined the German Workers' Party in 1919, which later became the Nazi Party.

  • He was a passionate speaker who promised to restore German pride, reject the Treaty of Versailles, and fight communism.

  • In 1923, Hitler attempted a coup (Beer Hall Putsch) but failed and was jailed for 9 months. There, he wrote Mein Kampf, outlining his ideas.

3. Economic Crisis and Popularity

  • The Great Depression (1929) caused mass unemployment in Germany.

  • Hitler used this crisis to gain support by promising jobs, national revival, and blaming Jews and communists for Germany’s problems.

  • The Nazi Party gained massive support in elections during the early 1930s.

4. Becoming Chancellor

  • In 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany.

  • Soon after, he used the Reichstag Fire to claim emergency powers and passed the Enabling Act, giving him full control.

  • All political opposition was banned, and Germany became a dictatorship.

🏛 The Nazi Regime

1. Totalitarian Control

  • Hitler established a fascist regime, controlling the press, education, and using the Gestapo (secret police) to silence critics.

  • The Nuremberg Laws (1935) stripped Jews of their rights, marking the beginning of systemic anti-Semitic policies.

2. Militarization and Expansion

  • Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding Germany's military.

  • He annexed Austria (1938) and took over Czechoslovakia (1939), without facing major opposition from other countries.

3. World War II Begins

  • On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war, starting World War II.

  • Hitler’s armies swept through Europe, conquering many countries in a short time using blitzkrieg (lightning war) tactics.