adolf hitler adolf hitler german april april german politician leader chancellor germany leader nazi_germany dictator nazi_germany initiated world war europe invasion poland september central figure holocaust hitler born austria austria-hungary raised near moved germany decorated service german_army world war joined precursor leader attempted coup munich seize power failed coup resulted hitler imprisonment time dictated volume autobiography political manifesto struggle release hitler gained popular support attacking treaty versailles promoting anti anti communism charismatic nazi propaganda hitler frequently denounced international capitalism communism jewish conspiracy largest elected party german led hitler appointment chancellor january following fresh elections won coalition passed enabling act began process transforming nazi_germany party dictatorship based ideology hitler aimed eliminate jews germany establish new order counter saw injustice post world war international order dominated britain france years power resulted rapid economic recovery great depression effective abandonment restrictions imposed germany world war annexation territories home millions ethnic germans actions gave significant popular support hitler sought living space german people aggressive foreign policy considered primary cause outbreak world war europe directed large scale september invaded poland resulting british french war germany june hitler ordered invasion soviet_union end german forces european axis powers occupied europe north_africa failure defeat soviets entry united_states war forced germany defensive suffered series escalating defeats final days war hitler married long time lover april days later killed avoid capture corpses burned hitler leadership racially motivated ideology nazi regime responsible genocide million jews millions victims followers deemed sub humans socially undesirable hitler nazi regime responsible killing estimated million civilians prisoners war addition million soldiers civilians died result military action number civilians killed second world war unprecedented warfare constitutes deadliest conflict human history early years ancestry hitler father illegitimate child register father initially bore mother surname married mother brought family brother register changed priest register father recorded hitler assumed surname hitler spelled hitler surname probably based lives german nazi official suggested mother employed jewish family family year old son fathered registered period record produced existence historians dismiss claim father jewish childhood education adolf hitler born april town austria-hungary present day austria close border children born hitler siblings died infancy hitler family moved germany acquired distinctive lower dialect austrian german marked speech life family returned austria settled june retired near farmed kept bees hitler attended state owned school nearby coincided onset intense father son conflicts caused hitler refusal conform strict discipline school farming efforts ended failure family moved year old hitler took singing lessons sang church choir considered priest family returned permanently death younger brother died deeply affected hitler changed confident outgoing student detached boy constantly fought father teachers successful career customs bureau wanted son follow footsteps hitler later episode period father took visit customs office depicting event gave rise father son strong ignoring son desire attend classical high school artist september hitler rebelled decision stated intentionally poorly school hoping father saw little progress making technical school let devote dream like austrian germans hitler began develop german nationalist ideas young age expressed loyalty germany declining rule empire hitler friends sang instead anthem sudden death january hitler performance school deteriorated mother allowed leave enrolled september behaviour performance improved passing repeat final exam hitler left school ambitions education clear plans career early adulthood vienna munich hitler lived bohemian life vienna financed orphan benefits support mother worked casual eventually painter selling vienna sights vienna rejected citing painting director recommended hitler study architecture interest lacked academic credentials finished secondary school december mother died breast cancer age hitler ran money forced live homeless shelters men time hitler lived vienna religious prejudice racism fears overrun immigrants east widespread populist mayor exploited rhetoric anti political effect german nationalism widespread following district hitler lived german nationalist advocated anti anti anti catholicism influence hitler hitler read local newspapers prejudice played christian fears influx eastern jews hitler read newspapers published main thoughts philosophers darwin hostile saw catholic developed admiration origin expression hitler anti remain matter debate hitler states anti vienna close friend august claimed hitler confirmed left sources provide strong evidence hitler jewish friends places vienna states historians generally agree notorious anti emerged germany defeat world war product paranoid stab explanation hitler received final father estate moved munich historians believe left vienna evade conscription austro hungarian army hitler later claimed wish serve austria-hungary mixture races armed forces deemed unfit service failed physical exam february returned munich world war outbreak world war hitler living munich austrian citizen volunteered serve according subsequent report authorities hitler certainly served error posted 1st served dispatch runner western france belgium spending nearly half time regimental headquarters lines present battle battle wounded decorated bravery receiving second class recommendation lieutenant hitler jewish superior received class august decoration rarely awarded hitler rank received black wound badge service headquarters hitler pursued artwork drawing cartoons instructions army newspaper battle october wounded left thigh shell exploded dispatch runners hitler spent months hospital returning regiment march october temporarily blinded gas attack hospitalised hitler learnt germany defeat account receiving news suffered second bout hitler described war greatest experiences praised commanding officers bravery wartime experience reinforced german patriotism shocked germany capitulation november bitterness collapse war effort began shape ideology like german nationalists believed stab myth claimed german army undefeated field stabbed home civilian leaders later dubbed november criminals treaty versailles stipulated germany relinquish territories treaty imposed economic sanctions levied heavy country germans saw treaty humiliation especially objected article interpreted declaring germany responsible war versailles treaty economic social political conditions germany war later exploited hitler political gain entry politics world war hitler returned munich formal education career prospects remained army july appointed intelligence agent reconnaissance commando assigned influence soldiers infiltrate monitoring activities hitler attracted founder anti semitic nationalist anti capitalist anti ideas favoured strong active government non jewish version socialism solidarity members society impressed hitler skills invited join hitler accepted september party member party began counting membership impression larger party hitler met party founders member society hitler mentor exchanging ideas introducing wide range munich society increase appeal changed hitler designed party banner white circle red background hitler discharged army march began working time party headquarters munich anti government german nationalists determined crush undermine february highly effective speaking large audiences spoke crowd meeting party supporters drove munich waving flags distributing hitler soon gained notoriety speeches treaty versailles rival politicians especially jews june hitler fundraising trip berlin mutiny broke munich members executive committee wanted merge rival hitler returned munich july angrily resignation committee members realised resignation leading public figure speaker mean end party hitler announced rejoin condition replace party chairman party headquarters remain munich committee agreed rejoined party july member hitler continued face opposition opponents hitler leadership expelled party printed copies pamphlet attacking hitler traitor party following days hitler spoke packed houses defended applause strategy proved successful special party congress july granted absolute powers party chairman replacing vote hitler beer hall speeches began attracting regular audiences adept populist themes including use blamed listeners economic hardships hitler personal understanding crowd psychology advantage engaged public speaking historians noted hypnotic effect rhetoric large audiences eyes small groups member later recalled erupted pride bordered minutes end shouted lungs tears streaming faces moment belonged adolf hitler body soul visitors met hitler privately noted appearance failed lasting impression early followers included air force ace army captain head nazis paramilitary organisation protected meetings attacked political opponents critical influence hitler thinking period group white russian early national group financed funds wealthy introduced hitler idea jewish conspiracy linking international finance beer hall hitler enlisted help world war general attempted coup known beer hall italian model appearance policies hitler wanted emulate march rome staging coup bavaria followed challenge government berlin hitler sought support state commissioner bavaria facto ruler police chief general wanted install nationalist dictatorship hitler november hitler stormed public meeting people organised beer hall munich speech announced national revolution begun declared formation new government retiring room hitler drawn demanded got support hitler forces initially succeeded occupying local police headquarters quickly withdrew support army state police joined forces hitler day hitler followers marched beer hall war ministry overthrow government police dispersed sixteen members police officers killed failed coup hitler fled home accounts contemplated suicide depressed calm arrested november high treason trial special munich began february temporary leader april hitler sentenced years imprisonment prison received friendly treatment guards allowed mail supporters regular visits party comrades pardoned released jail december state prosecutor objections including time hitler served year prison hitler dictated volume struggle originally entitled half years struggle lies deputy book dedicated society member autobiography exposition ideology book laid hitler plans transforming german society based race passages implied genocide published volumes sold copies million copies sold hitler year office shortly hitler eligible parole government attempted deported austria austrian federal chancellor rejected request grounds service german_army austrian citizenship void response hitler formally renounced austrian citizenship april rebuilding time hitler release prison politics germany economy improved limiting hitler opportunities political result failed beer hall affiliated organisations banned bavaria meeting prime minister bavaria held january hitler agreed respect authority state promised seek political power democratic process meeting paved way ban lifted february hitler barred public speaking authorities ban remained place advance political ambitions spite ban hitler appointed organise grow northern germany superb steered independent political course socialist elements party programme stock market united_states crashed october impact germany dire millions thrown work major banks collapsed hitler prepared advantage emergency gain support party promised versailles treaty strengthen economy provide jobs rise power administration great depression provided political opportunity hitler germans ambivalent parliamentary republic faced challenges left wing moderate political parties increasingly unable stem tide german referendum helped elevate nazi ideology elections september resulted break grand coalition replacement minority cabinet leader chancellor governed emergency president governance decree new norm paved way authoritarian forms government rose obscurity win cent vote parliamentary seats election second largest party parliament hitler prominent appearance trial officers late charged membership time illegal personnel prosecution argued party prompting defence lawyer hitler testify september hitler testified party pursue political power solely democratic elections won supporters officer corps measures brought little economic improvement extremely unpopular hitler exploited targeting political messages specifically people affected inflation 1920s depression farmers war veterans middle class hitler terminated austrian citizenship acquire german citizenship seven years meant unable run public office faced risk february interior minister member appointed hitler administrator state delegation berlin making hitler citizen germany hitler ran presidential elections january speech won support germany powerful support nationalist catholic republican parties social democrats hitler campaign slogan hitler hitler germany reference political ambitions campaigning aircraft politicians use aircraft travel political purposes utilised effectively hitler came second rounds election garnering cent vote final election lost election established hitler strong force german politics appointment chancellor absence effective government prompted influential politicians businessmen write letter urged appoint hitler leader government independent parliamentary parties turn movement millions people reluctantly agreed appoint hitler chancellor parliamentary elections july november resulted formation majority government hitler headed short lived coalition government formed party january new cabinet sworn brief ceremony office gained posts hitler named chancellor minister interior minister hitler insisted ministerial positions way gain control police germany fire march elections chancellor hitler worked attempts opponents build majority government political stalemate asked dissolve elections scheduled early march february building set fire blamed communist plot dutch communist found circumstances inside burning building according british historian sir consensus nearly historians van der actually set fire including opinion responsible hitler urging responded february suspended basic rights allowed detention trial decree permitted article constitution gave president power emergency measures protect public safety order activities suppressed communist party members arrested addition political campaigning engaged paramilitary violence spread anti communist propaganda days preceding election election day march share vote increased cent party acquired largest number seats parliament hitler party failed secure absolute majority necessitating coalition day enabling act march new constituted opening ceremony day held demonstrate unity nazi movement old prussian elite military hitler appeared morning coat greeted achieve political control despite having absolute majority parliament hitler government brought enabling act vote newly elected act officially titled der und law remedy distress people gave hitler cabinet power enact laws consent years laws certain exceptions constitution affect constitution enabling act required thirds majority pass leaving chance nazis provisions arrest communist deputies spite campaign party nazis allowed contest election prevent social democrats attending march assembled turbulent circumstances men served guards inside building large groups outside opposing proposed legislation shouted threats arriving members parliament position largest party decisive hitler verbally promised party leader retain power veto announced support enabling act act passed vote parties social democrats voting favour enabling act transformed hitler government facto legal dictatorship removal remaining limits risk appearing talk nonsense tell movement years don forget people laughed years ago declared day govern germany laugh declare shall remain power having achieved control legislative executive branches government hitler allies began suppress remaining opposition banned assets seized trade union delegates berlin day activities demolished union offices country trade unions forced dissolve leaders arrested sent concentration camps formed umbrella organisation represent workers administrators company owners reflecting concept national socialism spirit hitler people community end june parties intimidated disbanding included nazis nominal coalition partner help hitler forced leader resign june july declared legal political party germany demands political military power caused anxiety military industrial political leaders response hitler entire leadership night long knives took place june july hitler targeted leaders number hitler political adversaries chancellor rounded arrested shot international community germans shocked murders germany believed hitler restoring order august died previous day cabinet enacted law concerning highest state office law stated death office president abolished powers merged chancellor hitler head state head government formally named und leader chancellor action hitler eliminated legal remedy removed office head state hitler supreme commander armed forces traditional loyalty oath servicemen altered loyalty hitler personally office supreme commander state august merger presidency approved cent electorate voting early hitler blackmail consolidate hold military affair hitler forced war minister field marshal resign police showed new wife record prostitution army commander colonel general removed produced allegations engaged homosexual relationship men fallen objected hitler demand ready war early hitler assumed title commander chief taking personal command armed forces replaced der headed general day sixteen generals stripped commands transferred suspected sufficiently pro nazi early february generals removed hitler took care dictatorship appearance legality explicitly based article constitution renewed enabling act twice time year period elections held voters presented single list nazis pro nazi guests carried percent vote elections held far secret conditions nazis threatened severe didn vote vote nazi germany economy culture august hitler appointed president following year war economy charge preparing economy war reconstruction financed bills printing money seizing assets people arrested enemies state including jews unemployment fell million million hitler oversaw largest infrastructure improvement campaigns german history leading construction dams railroads civil works wages slightly lower mid late 1930s compared wages cost living increased cent average work week increased shift war economy average german working hours week hitler government sponsored architecture immense scale instrumental implementing hitler german culture placed charge proposed architectural renovations berlin hitler opened summer olympic games berlin new alliances meeting german military leaders february hitler spoke conquest east ruthless ultimate foreign policy objectives march prince secretary foreign office issued statement major foreign policy aims austria restoration germany national borders rejection military restrictions treaty versailles return german colonies africa german zone influence eastern_europe hitler found goals modest speeches period stressed peaceful goals policies willingness work international agreements meeting cabinet hitler military spending unemployment relief germany withdrew october january cent people administration voted unite germany march hitler announced expansion members times number permitted versailles treaty including development air force luftwaffe increase size navy kriegsmarine britain france italy condemned violations treaty stop anglo german naval agreement june allowed german increase cent british navy hitler called signing day life believing agreement marked beginning anglo german alliance predicted france italy consulted signing directly setting treaty versailles path germany zone march violation versailles treaty hitler sent troops spain support general franco spanish civil war receiving appeal help july time hitler continued efforts create anglo german alliance august response growing economic crisis caused efforts hitler ordered implement year plan prepare germany war years plan envisaged struggle german national socialism hitler view required committed effort regardless economic costs foreign minister government declared axis germany italy november germany signed anti pact japan britain china italy poland invited join anti pact italy signed hitler abandoned plan anglo german alliance blaming inadequate british leadership meeting foreign ministers military chiefs november hitler intention acquiring german people ordered preparations war east begin early later event death conference minutes recorded regarded political testament felt severe decline living standards germany result economic crisis stopped military aggression aimed seizing austria czechoslovakia hitler urged quick action britain france gained permanent lead arms race early wake affair hitler asserted control military foreign policy apparatus dismissing foreign minister appointing der supreme commander armed forces early onwards hitler carrying foreign policy ultimately aimed war world war early diplomatic successes alliance japan february advice newly appointed foreign minister strongly pro japanese hitler ended sino german alliance instead enter alliance modern powerful japan hitler announced german recognition japanese occupied state renounced german claims colonies pacific held japan hitler ordered end arms shipments china recalled german officers working retaliation chinese general cancelled sino german economic agreements germans chinese raw materials austria czechoslovakia march hitler announced unification austria nazi_germany hitler turned attention ethnic german population region czechoslovakia march hitler held series secret meetings berlin largest ethnic german parties men agreed demand increased autonomy germans government providing pretext german military action czechoslovakia april told foreign minister hungary czech government offer raise higher demands wanted sabotage understanding means method blow czechoslovakia quickly private hitler considered issue real intention war conquest czechoslovakia april hitler ordered prepare fall case green code invasion czechoslovakia result intense french british diplomatic pressure september president unveiled fourth plan constitutional reorganisation country agreed demands autonomy responded offer series violent clashes police led declaration martial law certain districts germany dependent imported oil confrontation britain dispute germany oil supplies forced hitler fall originally planned october september hitler attended day conference munich led munich agreement handed districts germany chamberlain satisfied munich conference calling outcome peace time hitler angered missed opportunity war expressed disappointment speech october hitler view british peace favourable german demands diplomatic defeat spurred intent limiting british power way eastern expansion germany result summit hitler selected time magazine man year late early continuing economic crisis caused forced hitler major defence cuts export die speech january called economic offensive increase german foreign exchange holdings pay raw materials high grade iron needed military weapons march violation munich accord possibly result deepening economic crisis requiring additional assets hitler ordered invade prague prague castle proclaimed german start world war private discussions hitler declared britain main enemy defeated poland necessary prelude goal eastern flank secured land added germany offended british guarantee march polish independence said shall devil drink speech wilhelmshaven launch battleship april threatened anglo german naval agreement british continued guarantee polish independence perceived policy poland german satellite state secure eastern flank prevent possible british blockade hitler initially favoured idea satellite state rejection polish government decided invade main foreign policy goal april hitler ordered military prepare case white plan invading poland august speech april renounced anglo german naval agreement german polish historians argued reason hitler rush war fear early death hitler concerned military attack poland result premature war britain hitler foreign minister ambassador london assured britain france honour commitments poland accordingly august hitler ordered military poland plan required soviet support non aggression pact pact germany soviet_union led included secret agreement partition poland countries contrary prediction britain anglo polish ties britain poland signed anglo polish alliance august news italy honour prompted hitler postpone attack poland august september hitler unsuccessfully tried manoeuvre british neutrality offering non aggression guarantee august instructed present minute peace plan short time limit effort blame imminent war british polish september germany invaded western poland pretext having denied claims right roads polish corridor germany ceded versailles treaty response britain france declared war germany september surprising hitler prompting angrily ask france britain act immediately september soviet forces invaded eastern poland fall poland followed contemporary journalists dubbed war sitting war hitler instructed newly appointed north western poland danzig west prussia areas questions asked accomplished polish citizens area merely sign forms stating german blood carried brutal ethnic campaign polish population complained allowing thousands poles accepted racial germans endangered german racial purity hitler getting involved advanced example theory working hitler issued vague instructions expected subordinates work policies dispute pitched represented championed ethnic poland represented governor general territory occupied poland called turning poland february dispute initially settled favour frank view ended economically mass issued memo entitled thoughts treatment alien population east calling expulsion entire jewish population europe africa reducing polish population class labourers hitler called memo good correct ignoring frank implemented policy poland hitler began military build germany western border april german forces invaded denmark norway april hitler proclaimed birth vision united empire nations europe dutch flemish joined racially pure german leadership germany attacked france conquered netherlands belgium victories prompted italy join forces hitler june france germany signed armistice june notes hitler popularity germany german support war reached peak returned berlin july tour paris following unexpected swift victory hitler promoted generals rank field marshal field marshal ceremony britain troops forced evacuate france sea continued fight alongside british hitler peace new british leader winston_churchill rejection ordered series aerial attacks royal_air_force radar stations south east england failed defeat royal_air_force known end october hitler realised air superiority invasion britain achieved ordered nightly air raids british cities including london plymouth september pact signed berlin hitler italian foreign minister later expanded include hungary romania bulgaria yielding axis powers hitler attempt integrate soviet_union anti british failed inconclusive talks hitler berlin november ordered preparations invasion soviet_union spring german forces deployed north_africa balkans middle_east february german forces arrived libya bolster italian presence april hitler launched invasion yugoslavia quickly followed invasion greece german forces sent support iraqi rebel forces fighting british invade crete path defeat june hitler non aggression pact million axis troops attacked soviet_union offensive intended destroy soviet_union seize natural resources subsequent aggression western powers invasion conquered huge area including baltic early august axis troops advanced won hitler ordered temporarily halt advance moscow divert groups aid generals disagreed change having advanced moscow decision caused crisis military leadership pause provided opportunity fresh reserves historian considers major factors caused failure moscow offensive resumed october ended december december japan attacked american fleet based pearl harbor hawaii days later hitler declared war united_states december asked hitler jews russia hitler replied partisans israeli historian commented remark probably close historians definitive order hitler genocide carried holocaust late german forces defeated second battle hitler plans seize suez_canal middle_east military expertise following earlier victories hitler began interfere military tactical planning damaging consequences december january hitler repeated refusal allow withdrawal battle led total destruction 6th army axis soldiers killed taken prisoner came decisive strategic defeat battle hitler military judgement increasingly erratic germany military economic position deteriorated hitler health following allied invasion sicily removed power vote confidence marshal placed charge government soon surrendered allies soviet_union steadily forced hitler armies retreat eastern june western allied armies landed northern france largest amphibious operations history german officers concluded defeat inevitable continuing hitler leadership result complete destruction country plans assassinate hitler proceeded significant degrees known came germany partly driven increasing prospect german defeat war july july plot operation planted bomb hitler headquarters wolf hitler narrowly survived staff officer moved containing bomb leg heavy conference table blast later hitler ordered savage resulting execution people defeat death late western allies advancing germany recognising strength determination hitler decided use remaining mobile reserves american british troops perceived far weaker december launched offensive western allies convince join fight soviets offensive failed temporary successes germany ruins january hitler spoke radio grave crisis moment despite mastered hitler hope negotiate peace united_states britain encouraged death april contrary expectations caused rift allies acting view germany military failures meant right survive nation hitler ordered destruction german industrial infrastructure fall allied hands minister armaments entrusted executing earth policy secretly order april 56th birthday hitler trip shelter surface ruined garden awarded boy soldiers fighting near berlin april broken defences general battle heights advanced outskirts berlin denial dire situation hitler placed hopes equipped army detachment commanded hitler ordered attack northern flank ordered attack northward attack military conference april hitler asked offensive told attack launched soviets entered berlin hitler asked leave room launched incompetence commanders culminating declaration time lost announced stay berlin end shoot april surrounded berlin proclamation urging citizens defend city day sent telegram arguing hitler isolated berlin assume leadership germany set deadline consider hitler hitler responded having arrested testament written april removed government positions april hitler discovered left berlin april trying negotiate surrender ordered arrest representative berlin shot midnight april hitler married small civil ceremony wedding breakfast new wife hitler dictated secretary event witnessed documents signed later afternoon hitler informed execution presumably increased determination avoid capture april soviet troops block hitler shot bit capsule bodies carried outside bombed garden placed bomb crater petrol corpses set fire continued grand admiral assumed hitler roles head state chancellor respectively berlin surrendered records soviet archives obtained fall soviet_union state remains hitler joseph children general hitler dogs repeatedly buried april soviet team detailed burial charts wooden boxes facility remains boxes burned crushed scattered river tributary according corpses fully burned found lower jaw dental work identified hitler remains holocaust international jewish outside europe succeed nations world war result earth victory jewish race europe holocaust germany war east based hitler long standing view jews enemy german people needed germany expansion focused eastern_europe expansion aiming defeat poland soviet_union removing killing jews general plan east called population occupied eastern_europe soviet_union west siberia use slave labour murdered conquered territories german settlers goal implement plan conquest soviet_union failed hitler moved plans forward january decided jews considered undesirable killed genocide ordered hitler organised executed records held january led senior nazi officials participating provide evidence systematic planning holocaust february hitler recorded saying shall regain health eliminating jews direct order hitler mass killings surfaced public speeches orders generals diaries nazi officials demonstrate conceived authorised approved killing squads followed german army poland baltic soviet_union informed activities summer concentration camp expanded accommodate large numbers killing scores concentration camps satellite camps set europe camps devoted exclusively assisted governments recruits occupied countries responsible deaths million people including million jews representing thirds jewish population europe people deaths took place concentration camps mass executions victims holocaust death died starvation disease working slave labourers addition eliminating jews nazis planned reduce population conquered territories million people starvation action called hunger plan food supplies diverted german army german civilians cities razed land allowed return forest german colonists hunger plan led starvation million people soviet_union partially fulfilled plans resulted deaths estimated million civilians prisoners war hitler policies resulted killing nearly million poles million soviet prisoners war communists political opponents physically mentally disabled witnesses trade hitler speak publicly killings visited concentration camps nazis embraced concept racial september hitler presented laws known laws laws banned sexual relations marriages jews later extended include offspring laws stripped non german citizenship forbade employment non jewish women age jewish households hitler early policies targeted children physical developmental disabilities programme dubbed action later authorised programme adults mental physical disabilities referred action leadership style hitler ruled asserting leader principle principle relied absolute obedience subordinates superiors viewed government structure pyramid leader apex rank party determined elections positions filled appointment higher rank demanded obedience leader hitler leadership style contradictory orders subordinates place positions duties responsibilities overlapped stronger job way hitler fostered distrust competition subordinates consolidate power cabinet met discouraged ministers meeting independently hitler typically written orders instead communicated verbally conveyed close associate entrusted appointments personal finances position control flow information access hitler hitler dominated country war effort world war greater extent national leader assumed role supreme commander armed forces subsequently major decisions germany military strategy decision mount risky series norway france low countries advice military proved successful diplomatic military strategies employed attempts force united_kingdom war ended failure hitler deepened involvement war effort appointing commander chief army december point forward personally directed war soviet_union military commanders facing retained degree autonomy hitler leadership increasingly disconnected reality war turned germany military defensive strategies hindered slow decision making frequent hold positions continued believe leadership deliver victory final months war hitler refused consider peace negotiations complete destruction germany surrender military challenge hitler dominance war effort senior officers generally supported enacted decisions legacy hitler suicide likened contemporaries spell broken public support hitler collapsed time death germans passing argues civilians military personnel busy adjusting collapse country fleeing fighting interest according historian national socialism burst like bubble leader hitler actions nazi ideology universally regarded immoral according history physical moral associated man hitler political programme brought world war leaving devastated impoverished eastern germany suffered wholesale destruction characterised zero hour hitler policies inflicted human suffering unprecedented scale according nazi regime responsible killing estimated million civilians prisoners war addition million soldiers civilians died result military action number civilians killed second world war unprecedented history warfare historians philosophers politicians use word evil describe nazi regime european countries promotion holocaust denial described hitler great examples singular power personality historical life english historian saw terrible history systematic historical philosophical world known historian hitler defeat marked end phase european history dominated germany place emerged cold war global confrontation dominated united_states nato nations dominated soviet_union historian hitler displacement jews modern nation state israel exist contends hitler european spheres influence postponed claims alexander great hitler significant impact comparable historical figure caused wide range worldwide changes relatively short time span views religion hitler born practising catholic mother father leaving home hitler attended mass received states hitler harsh church political associates officially left attachment adds hitler felt absence church faithful turn considered step backwards according believed japanese religious beliefs islam suitable religion germans christianity historian states hitler fundamentally opposed christian churches according believe god held christian ethics contempt preferred view survival favoured aspects suited views adopted elements catholic_church organisation politics hitler viewed church important politically conservative influence society adopted strategic relationship suited immediate political purposes public hitler praised christian heritage german christian culture belief jesus fought jews pro christian public rhetoric private statements described christianity nonsense founded lies according report nazi master plan hitler planned destroy influence christian churches eventual goal total elimination christianity goal informed hitler movement early saw express extreme position publicly according wanted wait war executing plan wrote hitler negative view mystical notions attempt hitler pragmatic ambitions centred practical concerns health researchers variously suggested hitler suffered syndrome skin irregular disease giant cell temporal report prepared harvard_university described hitler book god adolf hitler historian proposes hitler suffered borderline personality disorder historians consider hitler suffered number illnesses including disease experience fully aware responsible decisions making theories hitler medical condition difficult prove placing weight effect events consequences nazi_germany possibly impaired physical health individual feels better broader view german history examining social forces led nazi dictatorship policies pursue narrow explanations holocaust world war based person hitler followed vegetarian diet social events gave graphic accounts slaughter animals effort dinner guests meat greenhouse constructed near near ensure steady supply fresh fruit vegetables hitler war hitler publicly avoided alcohol occasionally drank beer wine private gave drinking weight gain non life smoked heavily youth cigarettes day eventually quit calling habit waste money encouraged close associates quit offering gold watch able break habit hitler began occasionally addicted late linked use hitler increasingly decision making example rarely allowing military prescribed war years hitler took pills day chronic stomach problems regularly consumed cocaine suffered result july plot bomb blast wood splinters removed legs footage hitler shows hand walk began war worsened end life doctors met hitler weeks life formed diagnosis disease family hitler created public image man domestic life dedicated entirely political mission nation met lover married april september half niece committed suicide hitler gun munich apartment rumoured contemporaries romantic relationship death source deep lasting pain living member immediate family died propaganda films hitler exploited documentary films inspire cult personality involved appeared series propaganda films political career triumph des regarded pioneer modern filmmaking list propaganda film appearances der des victory faith triumph des triumph tag der day freedom armed forces online
Adolf Hitler