The childhood and formative years of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler is one of the most notorious figures in history. His name is synonymous with evil, and his actions during World War II resulted in the deaths of millions of people.

But how did this man become so twisted and evil?

By understanding Hitler's early life, we can better understand how he became the monster he was.

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in the small Austrian town of Braunau am Inn.

His father, Alois Hitler, was a customs official who had been married twice before. Adolf's mother, Klara Polzl, was Alois's third wife and twenty-four years younger than him.

Klara and Alois had six children in total, but only Adolf and his sister Paula survived to adulthood.

Three of the other children all died young, before Adolf was born.

Alois was a strict father, and he frequently beat Adolf. As a result of the physical abuse, Adolf became withdrawn and resentful towards his father.

At the age of 3, Adolf's family moved to Passau in Germany. Then, the family moved to the city of Linz in Austria when Adolf was thirteen years old.

Adolf attended a state secondary school in Linz until he was sixteen.

He did not do well in school and struggled academically. Adolf clashed with his father over his career aspirations, as he wanted him to enter the civil service.

Instead, Adolf wanted to be a painter and he grew disinterested in many of his school subjects.

Adolf's father died in 1903, and his mother died of cancer four years later.

With the death of his parents, Adolf lost the only people who loved him.

Hitler seems to have enjoyed his years in Vienna. He discovered a love for painting and architecture during this time.

He also became interested in politics and developed many of the ideas that would later make him one of the most notorious dictators in history. 

Hitler's first attempt at getting into art school failed. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna but was rejected twice, both in 1907 and 1908.

This rejection had a profound effect on him and only increased his desire to become an artist.

By 1909, Hitler was homeless and living in a men's hostel. He supported himself by selling his paintings, postcards, and doing odd jobs.

When World War I broke out, Hitler saw it as an opportunity to put his artistic dreams on hold and serve his country.

Adolf's experience in World War One had a profound effect on him. He enlisted in the German army in 1914 and was sent to the front lines.

He initially served as a dispatch runner. 

Hitler saw firsthand the horrors of war and the futility of trench warfare. He was involved in the First Battle of Ypres in 1914, the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and the battles of Arras and Passchendaele in 1917.

He was awarded the Iron Cross, Second Class for his bravery.

On the 15th of October 1918, Hitler was hit by a mustard gas attack and was temporarily blinded.

He was hospitalised in Pasewalk, Germany and was diagnosed with hysterical blindness.

While he was in the hospital, Hitler learned that Germany had surrendered and that he would be going home.

He was angry and resentful at what he saw as a betrayal by the German government.

This anger would later fuel his political career.

After the war, Hitler returned to Munich. He became involved in German politics and joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).

In 1923, he attempted to overthrow the Weimar Republic's government in what is known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

The coup failed, and Hitler was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.

During this time, he wrote his book Mein Kampf (meaning 'My Struggle'). It outlined his views on anti-Semitism, living space (Lebensraum) for the German people, and his disdain for communism, among other topics.

He was released from prison after serving nine months of his sentence.