What happened in Adolf Hitler's early life?

Barbed wire fence at Auschwitz
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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.

Early life

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 had two children from a previous marriage, but both had died before Adolf was born.

 

Adolf was Klara's fourth child, and she doted on him. Alois was a strict father, and he frequently beat Adolf. As a result of the beatings, Adolf became withdrawn and resentful towards his father.

 

At the age of 3, Adolf's family moved to the village of Hafeld 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 he was often bullied by his classmates. Adolf's father wanted him to enter the civil service, but Adolf had other plans. He wanted to be a painter. 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.

Art school

Hitler's years in Vienna were not all bad. He discovered his 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.


World War One

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 but was later promoted to corporal. 

 

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


Early political involvement

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 Bavarian government in what is known as the Beer Hall Putsch. The coup failed, and Hitler was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.

 

He was released after nine months and went into hiding. During this time, he wrote his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle). He was released from prison after serving nine months of his sentence.

Summary

Adolf Hitler's early life was marked by tragedy and abuse. He was rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts and later the military. These rejections drove him into politics where he would go on to become one of the most notorious dictators in history.

 

His early years shaped his world view and laid the foundation for his future actions. By understanding his early life, we can better understand the man that would later lead Nazi Germany.