Hitler

"Hitler" redirects here. For other uses, see Hitler (disambiguation).

Adolf Hitler (German: [ˈadɔlf ˈhɪtlɐ] (listen); 20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party  (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; NSDAP). He rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then as Führer in 1934.[a] During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, he initiated World War II in Europe by invading Poland on 1 September 1939. He was closely involved in military operations throughout the war and was central to the perpetration of the Holocaust.

Adolf Hitler

Hitler in 1938

Führer of Germany

In office

2 August 1934 – 30 April 1945

Preceded by

Paul von Hindenburg  (President)

Succeeded by

Karl Dönitz (President)

Chancellor of Germany

In office

30 January 1933 – 30 April 1945

President

Paul von Hindenburg

(1933–1934)

Deputy

Franz von Papen

(1933–1934)

Hermann Göring

(1941–1945)

Preceded by

Kurt von Schleicher

Succeeded by

Joseph Goebbels

Führer of the Nazi Party

In office

29 July 1921[1] – 30 April 1945

Deputy

Rudolf Hess (1933–1941)

Preceded by

Anton Drexler  (Chairman)

Succeeded by

Martin Bormann (Party Minister)

Personal details

Born

20 April 1889

Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary

Died

30 April 1945  (aged 56)

Berlin, Nazi Germany

Cause of death

Suicide by gunshot

Citizenship

Austrian (1889–1925)

None (1925–1932)

German (1932–1945)

Political party

Nazi Party (1921–1945)

Other political

affiliations

German Workers' Party  (1919–20)

Spouse(s)

Eva Braun (m. 1945)

Mother

Klara Pölzl

Father

Alois Hitler

Relatives

Hitler family

Cabinet

Hitler cabinet

Signature

Military service

Allegiance

German Empire

Branch

Imperial German Army

Bavarian Army

Service years

1914–1920

Rank

Gefreiter

Unit

16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment

Wars

World War I

Western Front

First Battle of Ypres

Battle of the Somme  (WIA)

Battle of Arras

Battle of Passchendaele

Hundred Days Offensive   (WIA)

Awards

Iron Cross First Class

Iron Cross Second Class

Wound Badge

Hitler was born in Austria—then part of Austria-Hungary—and was raised near Linz. He moved to Germany in 1913 and was decorated during his service in the German Army in World War I. In 1919, he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), the precursor of the NSDAP, and was appointed leader of the NSDAP in 1921. In 1923, he attempted to seize power in a failed coup in Munich and was imprisoned. In jail, he dictated the first volume of his autobiography and political manifesto Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"). After his release in 1924, Hitler gained popular support by attacking the Treaty of Versailles  and promoting Pan-Germanism, anti-semitism  and anti-communism with charismatic oratory and Nazi propaganda. He frequently denounced international capitalism and communism as part of a Jewish conspiracy.

By November 1932, the Nazi Party had the most seats in the German Reichstag but did not have a majority. As a result, no party was able to form a majority parliamentary coalition in support of a candidate for chancellor. Former chancellor Franz von Papen and other conservative leaders persuaded President Paul von Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor on 30 January 1933. Shortly after, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act of 1933 which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany, a one-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism. Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a New Order to counter what he saw as the injustice of the post-World War I international order dominated by Britain and France. His first six years in power resulted in rapid economic recovery from the Great Depression, the abrogation of restrictions imposed on Germany after World War I, and the annexation of territories inhabited by millions of ethnic Germans, which gave him significant popular support.

"Hitler" redirects here. For other uses, see Hitler (disambiguation).
Adolf Hitler (German: [ˈadɔlf ˈhɪtlɐ] (listen); 20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party  (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; NSDAP). He rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then as Führer in 1934.[a] During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, he initiated World War II in Europe by invading Poland on 1 September 1939. He was closely involved in military operations throughout the war and was central to the perpetration of the Holocaust.

Adolf Hitler

Hitler in 1938
Führer of Germany
In office
2 August 1934 – 30 April 1945
Preceded by
Paul von Hindenburg  (President)
Succeeded by
Karl Dönitz (President)
Chancellor of Germany
In office
30 January 1933 – 30 April 1945
President
Paul von Hindenburg
(1933–1934)
Deputy
Franz von Papen
(1933–1934)
Hermann Göring
(1941–1945)
Preceded by
Kurt von Schleicher
Succeeded by
Joseph Goebbels
Führer of the Nazi Party
In office
29 July 1921[1] – 30 April 1945
Deputy
Rudolf Hess (1933–1941)
Preceded by
Anton Drexler  (Chairman)
Succeeded by
Martin Bormann (Party Minister)
Personal details
Born
20 April 1889
Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary
Died
30 April 1945  (aged 56)
Berlin, Nazi Germany
Cause of death
Suicide by gunshot
Citizenship
Austrian (1889–1925)
None (1925–1932)
German (1932–1945)
Political party
Nazi Party (1921–1945)
Other political
affiliations
German Workers' Party  (1919–20)
Spouse(s)
Eva Braun (m. 1945)
Mother
Klara Pölzl
Father
Alois Hitler
Relatives
Hitler family
Cabinet
Hitler cabinet
Signature

Military service
Allegiance
German Empire
Branch
Imperial German Army
Bavarian Army
Service years
1914–1920
Rank
Gefreiter
Unit
16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment
Wars
World War I
Western Front
First Battle of Ypres
Battle of the Somme  (WIA)
Battle of Arras
Battle of Passchendaele
Hundred Days Offensive   (WIA)
Awards
Iron Cross First Class
Iron Cross Second Class
Wound Badge
Hitler was born in Austria—then part of Austria-Hungary—and was raised near Linz. He moved to Germany in 1913 and was decorated during his service in the German Army in World War I. In 1919, he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), the precursor of the NSDAP, and was appointed leader of the NSDAP in 1921. In 1923, he attempted to seize power in a failed coup in Munich and was imprisoned. In jail, he dictated the first volume of his autobiography and political manifesto Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"). After his release in 1924, Hitler gained popular support by attacking the Treaty of Versailles  and promoting Pan-Germanism, anti-semitism  and anti-communism with charismatic oratory and Nazi propaganda. He frequently denounced international capitalism and communism as part of a Jewish conspiracy.

By November 1932, the Nazi Party had the most seats in the German Reichstag but did not have a majority. As a result, no party was able to form a majority parliamentary coalition in support of a candidate for chancellor. Former chancellor Franz von Papen and other conservative leaders persuaded President Paul von Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor on 30 January 1933. Shortly after, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act of 1933 which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany, a one-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism. Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a New Order to counter what he saw as the injustice of the post-World War I international order dominated by Britain and France. His first six years in power resulted in rapid economic recovery from the Great Depression, the abrogation of restrictions imposed on Germany after World War I, and the annexation of territories inhabited by millions of ethnic Germans, which gave him significant popular ssupport.