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[[Image:Hitler6-thumb.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hitler with his dog, Blondie]]

[[Image:Hitler6-thumb.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hitler with his dog, Blondie]]

'''Adolf Hitler''' was born April 20, 1889 in Branau Am Inn, [[Austria]]. He died April 30, 1945. His dictatorial rule of [[Germany]], which led to the deaths of millions before and during [[World War II]], has placed him among history's most hated villains. Many believe he was one of the most powerful military Generals in history.

'''Adolf Hitler''' was born April 20, 1889 in Branau Am Inn, [[Austria]]. He died April 30, 1945. His dictatorial rule of [[Germany]], which led to the deaths of millions before and during [[World War II]], upon his direct orders, has placed him among history's most hated villains. Many believe he was one of the most powerful military Generals in history.

"Adolf Hitler or the incarnation of absolute evil; this is how future generations will remember the all-powerful Fuehrer of the criminal Third Reich. Compared with him, his peers [[Mussolini]] and [[Franco]] were novices. Under his hypnotic gaze, humanity crossed a threshold from which one could see the abyss. "Before Hitler, we thought we had sounded the depths of human nature," argues Ron Rosenbaum, author of "Explaining Hitler." "He showed how much lower we could go, and that's what was so horrifying. It gets us wondering not just at the depths he showed us but whether there is worse to come. The power of Hitler was to confound the modernist notion that judgments about good and evil were little more than matters of taste, reflections of social class and power and status. Although some modern scholars drive past the notion of evil and instead explain Hitler's conduct as a reflection of his childhood and self-esteem issues, for most survivors of the 20th century he is confirmation of our instinctive sense that evil does exist. It moves among us; it leads us astray and deploys powerful, subtle weapons against even the sturdiest souls."  

"Adolf Hitler or the incarnation of absolute evil; this is how future generations will remember the all-powerful Fuehrer of the criminal Third Reich. Compared with him, his peers [[Mussolini]] and [[Franco]] were novices. Under his hypnotic gaze, humanity crossed a threshold from which one could see the abyss. "Before Hitler, we thought we had sounded the depths of human nature," argues Ron Rosenbaum, author of "Explaining Hitler." "He showed how much lower we could go, and that's what was so horrifying. It gets us wondering not just at the depths he showed us but whether there is worse to come. The power of Hitler was to confound the modernist notion that judgments about good and evil were little more than matters of taste, reflections of social class and power and status. Although some modern scholars drive past the notion of evil and instead explain Hitler's conduct as a reflection of his childhood and self-esteem issues, for most survivors of the 20th century he is confirmation of our instinctive sense that evil does exist. It moves among us; it leads us astray and deploys powerful, subtle weapons against even the sturdiest souls."  

The fact is that Hitler was beloved by his people — not the military, at least not in the beginning, but by the average Germans who pledged to him an affection, a tenderness and a fidelity that bordered on the irrational. It was idolatry on a national scale. One had to see the crowds who acclaimed him. And the women who were attracted to him. And the young who in his presence went into ecstasy. Did they not see the hateful mask that covered his face? Did they not divine the catastrophe he bore within himself?"[http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/hitler.html]

The fact is that Hitler was beloved by his people — not the military, at least not in the beginning, but by the average Germans who pledged to him an affection, a tenderness and a fidelity that bordered on the irrational. It was idolatry on a national scale. One had to see the crowds who acclaimed him. And the women who were attracted to him. And the young who in his presence went into ecstasy. Did they not see the hateful mask that covered his face? Did they not divine the catastrophe he bore within himself?"[http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/hitler.html]

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==Birth and pre political life==

==Birth and pre political life==

==Beer Hall Putsch==

==Beer Hall Putsch==

Germany in 1923 was marked by social and political unrest caused by hyperinflation. In this time Hitler was able convince [[Erich Ludendorff]], an accomplished  general and leader of the German forces in the first World War, to join him in a coup d'etat (''Putsch'' in German). When Hitler learned that the nationalist Prime Minister of Bavaria was giving a speech to 3000 officials in one of Munich's biggest beer halls, he ordered his paratroopers to surround the building. Hitler went into building and took the prime minister hostage, in an attempt to convince him to join Hitler's coup against Berlin, and to become member in his new administration. The Bavarian prime minister agreed under pressure, but informed later that night the nation via radio, that he did not support Hitler.   

Germany in 1923 was marked by social and political unrest caused by hyperinflation. In this time Hitler was able convince [[Erich Ludendorff]], an accomplished  general and leader of the German forces in the first World War, to join him in a coup d'etat (''Putsch'' in German). When Hitler learned that the nationalist Prime Minister of Bavaria was giving a speech to 3000 officials in one of Munich's biggest beer halls, he ordered his paratroopers to surround the building. Hitler went into building and took the prime minister hostage, in an attempt to convince him to join Hitler's coup against Berlin, and to become member in his new administration. The Bavarian prime minister agreed under pressure, but informed later that night the nation via radio, that he did not support Hitler.   

==Path to Power==

==Path to Power==

In the early 1930 Germany was in a permanent political and constitutional crisis. This was caused by rising unemployment during the great depression, combined with frustration about the perceived injustice imposed on Germany by the Versailles treaty, street violence between various pro and anti-democratic militias, and an inability of the democratic parties to cooperate. This resulted in a rise of  both ends of the political spectrum; [[communists]] on one side and [[Nazi| national socialist]] on the other. The national socialist were also simply known as ''Hitler movement''.  

In the early 1930 Germany was in a permanent political and constitutional crisis. This was caused by rising unemployment during the great depression, combined with frustration about the perceived injustice imposed on Germany by the Versailles treaty, street violence between various pro and anti-democratic militias, and an inability of the democratic parties to cooperate. This resulted in a rise of  both ends of the political spectrum; [[communists]] on one side and [[Nazi| national socialist]] on the other. The national socialist were also simply known as ''Hitler movement''.  

== Consolidation of Power ==

== Consolidation of Power ==

In the lead up to the 1933 election oppression and harassment of political opponents increased. On February 27, 1933, six day before the Reichstag election, the Dutch National and communist Marinus van der Lubbe was caught setting the Reichstag on fire. While the exact events surrounding this event are still contended, it was blamed on a communist conspiracy. President Hindenburg signed the Reichtag Fire decree the next day, which increased Hitlers powers and gave him the opportunity to arrest political opponents, among them elected members of parliament.[http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/burns.htm] [http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/nazi/innenpolitik/reichstagsbrand/index.html]   

In the lead up to the 1933 election oppression and harassment of political opponents increased. On February 27, 1933, six day before the Reichstag election, the Dutch National and communist Marinus van der Lubbe was caught setting the Reichstag on fire. While the exact events surrounding this event are still contended, it was blamed on a communist conspiracy. President Hindenburg signed the Reichtag Fire decree the next day, which increased Hitlers powers and gave him the opportunity to arrest political opponents, among them elected members of parliament.[http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/burns.htm] [http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/nazi/innenpolitik/reichstagsbrand/index.html]   

==1944 Assassination Attempt==

==1944 Assassination Attempt==

On July 20, 1944, officers of the German Wehrmacht succeeded in planting a bomb in Hitler's secret headquarters in East Prussia which exploded, killing three and injuring Hitler.

On July 20, 1944, officers of the German Wehrmacht succeeded in planting a bomb in Hitler's secret headquarters in East Prussia which exploded, killing three and injuring Hitler.

==Marriage==

==Marriage==

He married [[Eva Braun]], on 29 April 1945 in Berlin.

He married [[Eva Braun]], on 29 April 1945 in Berlin.

==Death==

==Death==

Hitler committed suicide in the Führerbunker next to the Chancellery in [[Berlin]] on April 30, 1945, after the Allied forces had invaded Germany, and as the Red Army was fighting its way into the heart of Berlin. [http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/adolfhitler.html] He appointed [[Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz]] to succeed him as President in his last will, to continue the war against the Red Army. A few days later, Dönitz instructed the military to sign an unconditional surrender, and the war ended officially on May 8, 1945, the date that became known as [[V-E Day]].

Hitler committed suicide in the Führerbunker next to the Chancellery in [[Berlin]] on April 30, 1945, after the Allied forces had invaded Germany, and as the Red Army was fighting its way into the heart of Berlin. [http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/adolfhitler.html] He appointed [[Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz]] to succeed him as President in his last will, to continue the war against the Red Army. A few days later, Dönitz instructed the military to sign an unconditional surrender, and the war ended officially on May 8, 1945, the date that became known as [[V-E Day]].