Hitler
Born in 1889 in Austria – absorbed anti-Semitic and German ‘master-race’ theories there
Joined German army for WWI – given award for bravery
Felt betrayed by German surrender in 1918
After WWI, joined right wing groups
Took over Nazi party and set up private army, the Storm Troopers (SA) / Brownshirts
Sent to prison after failed attempt to overthrow government (Beerhall Putsch) – wrote Mein Kampf, setting out his anti-Semitic views and aims for the German master race
After prison, built up Nazi party and started to contest elections
Nazis became biggest German party in 1932 (during Great Depression) and Hitler became Chancellor in 1933
Democracy eliminated and dictatorship installed
Nazi party and SA purged in Night of Long Knives
Passed Nuremberg Laws denying German Jews of citizenship and putting severe restrictions on their liberty
Co-ordinated the ‘Final Solution’ which resulted in 6 million Jewish people being killed in concentration camps
Took advantage of British/French policy of appeasement to
break terms of Treaty of Versailles
re-arm Germany
re-militarise the Rhineland
take over Austria (Anschluss)
Take over the Sudetenland (1938)
1939 – Invaded Czechoslovakia. Britain and France said they would declare war if he invaded Poland.
1939 – signed ‘Non-Aggression Pact’ with Stalin and invaded Poland, starting WWII
Conquered most of Western Europe in 1940 – lost Battle of Britain
Invaded Soviet Union (Russia) 1941
Defeated in Stalingrad and North Africa 1942-43 – started to lose war
1945 – Allies invaded Germany from all sides
30 April, 1945 – committed suicide in bunker in Berlin
Joined German army for WWI – given award for bravery
Felt betrayed by German surrender in 1918
After WWI, joined right wing groups
Took over Nazi party and set up private army, the Storm Troopers (SA) / Brownshirts
Sent to prison after failed attempt to overthrow government (Beerhall Putsch) – wrote Mein Kampf, setting out his anti-Semitic views and aims for the German master race
After prison, built up Nazi party and started to contest elections
Nazis became biggest German party in 1932 (during Great Depression) and Hitler became Chancellor in 1933
Democracy eliminated and dictatorship installed
Nazi party and SA purged in Night of Long Knives
Passed Nuremberg Laws denying German Jews of citizenship and putting severe restrictions on their liberty
Co-ordinated the ‘Final Solution’ which resulted in 6 million Jewish people being killed in concentration camps
Took advantage of British/French policy of appeasement to
break terms of Treaty of Versailles
re-arm Germany
re-militarise the Rhineland
take over Austria (Anschluss)
Take over the Sudetenland (1938)
1939 – Invaded Czechoslovakia. Britain and France said they would declare war if he invaded Poland.
1939 – signed ‘Non-Aggression Pact’ with Stalin and invaded Poland, starting WWII
Conquered most of Western Europe in 1940 – lost Battle of Britain
Invaded Soviet Union (Russia) 1941
Defeated in Stalingrad and North Africa 1942-43 – started to lose war
1945 – Allies invaded Germany from all sides
30 April, 1945 – committed suicide in bunker in Berlin