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Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945), ruled Germany as dictator from 1933 to 1945. He turnedGermany into a powerful war machine and provoked World War II in 1939. Hitler'sforces conquered most of Europe before they were defeated in 1945.Hitler spread death as no person has done in modern history. "Have no pity! Actbrutally!" he told his soldiers. He ordered tens of thousands of those who opposedhim to be executed, and hundreds of thousands to be thrown into prison. He wastotally unscrupulous and believed that the strong must win, while the weak lose. Inthe struggle for power, any trick, however ruthless, was justified. His strength of will, his ability to lie, cheat, and flatter helped him to win power.Hitler particularly persecuted Jews. He ordered them removed and killed in countrieshe controlled. Hitler set up concentration camps where about 3 million Jews weremurdered. Altogether, Hitler's forces killed about 6 million European Jews as well asabout 5 million other people that Hitler regarded as racially inferior or politicallydangerous.Adolf Hitler began his rise to political power in 1919, the year after World War I hadended. The German Empire had been defeated, and the nation's economy lay inruins. Hitler joined a small group of men who became known as Nazis. He soonbecame their leader. Hitler and his followers believed he could win back Germany'spast glory. He promised to rebuild Germany into a mighty empire that would last athousand years.Hitler became dictator of Germany in 1933 and quickly succeeded in regainingsome territories taken from Germany as a result of World War I. He threatened waragainst Czechoslovakia in 1938, but was stopped by a combination of counterthreats and concessions. His forces invaded Poland in 1939. Then Great

Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada declared war onGermany, and World War II began.Hitler had a clear vision of what he wanted, and he had the daring to pursue it. Buthis aims had no limits, and he overestimated the resources and abilities of Germany.Hitler had little regard for experts in any field. He regularly ignored the advice of hisgenerals and followed his own judgment, even while Germany was being defeatedin the last years of the war. Finally, as United States, British, and Soviet troopsclosed in on the heart of Germany, during the first months of 1945, Hitler killedhimself.Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Austria, a small town across theInn River from Germany. He was the fourth child of the third marriage of Alois Hitler,a customs official. Alois Hitler was 51 years old when Adolf was born. Adolf'smother, Klara Polzl, was 28 years old. She was a farmer's daughter.Alois Hitler was born to an unmarried woman named Anna Maria Schicklgruber. Awandering miller named Johann Georg Hiedler married her about five years later.Hiedler died in 1856, when Alois was 20 years old, having never recognized Alois ashis child. In 1876, Hiedler's brother arranged for Alois to be registered as thelegitimate son of Johann Georg and Maria Hiedler. The priest who made the entryspelled the name "Hitler." Years later, before he came to power, some of Hitler'spolitical opponents called him Schicklgruber as an insult. Only four of Alois Hitler'seight children lived to adulthood. Adolf had a sister, Paula; a half brother, Alois; anda half sister, Angela.Alois Hitler died in 1903, and Adolf left secondary school 21/2 years later at the ageof 16. His mother drew a widow's pension and owned some property. Adolf did not

have to go to work. He spent his time daydreaming, drawing pictures, and readingbooks.In 1907, Hitler went to Vienna, the capital of Austria-Hungary. He wanted to be anart student, but he failed the entrance examination of the Academy of Fine Artstwice. His mother died in 1907. Adolf had an income from the money his mother lefther children and inherited some money from his aunt. He also claimed an orphan'spension. Sometimes he sold his drawings and paintings. He lived comfortably andidly during most of his stay in Vienna, considering himself an artist.Hitler also concerned himself with political observations, admiring the effectiveleadership and organization of the Social Democratic Party in Vienna. He developeda growing hatred for Jews and Slavs. Like many German-speaking Austrians, Hitlerbecame fiercely nationalistic. No form of government could last, he thought, if ittreated people of different nationalities equally.In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany. The Austrian Army called him for aphysical examination, but he was found unfit for service.World War I began in August 1914. Hitler volunteered immediately for service in theGerman Army and was accepted. He served valiantly as a messenger on theWestern Front for most of the war, taking part in some of the bloodiest battles. Hewas wounded and twice decorated for bravery. But Hitler rose only to the rank of corporal. When Germany surrendered in November 1918, he was in a militaryhospital recovering from temporary blindness that resulted from his exposure inbattle to mustard gas. He was deeply shaken by news of the armistice. He believedthat the unity of the German nation was threatened, and that he must attempt tosave Germany.