HITLER AND NAZISM. Early life. Adolf Hitler was born in Branau am Inn, Austria, a village close to German-Austrian border, on April 20, 1889, and was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. When Hitler was 3 years old, the family moved from Austria to Germany. As a child, Hitler clash ed frequently with his father. His father did not approve of his interest in Arts. Hitler's father died suddenly in 1903. Hitler left school at 16 with no qualifications and struggle d to make a living as a painter in Vienna. In Vienna he worked as a casual laborer and a watercolor painter . Hitler applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice and was rejected both times. Out of money, he moved into a homeless shelter , where he remained for several years. Hitler later pointed to these years as the time when he first cultivated his anti-Semitism . World War I. At the beginning of World War I, Hitler applied to serve in the German army. He was accepted in August 1914, though he was still an Austrian citizen. Although he spent much of his time away from the front lines. He was decorated for bravery, receiving the Iron Cross First Class. Hitler became embitter ed over the collapse of the war effort. The experience reinforced his passionate German patriotism, and he was shocked by Germany's surrender in 1918. Like other
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HITLER AND NAZISM.
Early life.
Adolf Hitler was born in Branau am Inn, Austria, a village close to German-Austrian border,
on April 20, 1889, and was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. When
Hitler was 3 years old, the family moved from Austria to Germany.
As a child, Hitler clashed frequently with his father. His father did
not approve of his interest in Arts. Hitler's father died suddenly in
1903. Hitler left school at 16 with no qualifications and struggled to
make a living as a painter in Vienna. In Vienna he worked as a
casual laborer and a watercolor painter. Hitler applied to the
Academy of Fine Arts twice and was rejected both times. Out of
money, he moved into a homeless shelter, where he remained for
several years. Hitler later pointed to these years as the time when he first cultivated his anti-
Semitism.
World War I.
At the beginning of World War I, Hitler applied to serve in the German army. He was
accepted in August 1914, though he was still an Austrian citizen. Although he spent much of his
time away from the front lines. He was decorated for bravery, receiving the Iron Cross First Class.
Hitler became embittered over the collapse of the
war effort. The experience reinforced his
passionate German patriotism, and he was
shocked by Germany's surrender in 1918. Like
other German nationalists, he believed that the
German army had been betrayed by civilian
leaders and Marxists. He found the Treaty of
Versailles degrading, particularly the
demilitarization of the Rhineland and the stipulation that Germany accept responsibility for
starting the war.
Freikorps.
The Freikorps was the name adopted by some right wing nationalists after World War One
had ended. Members of the Freikorps could be described as conservative, nationalistic, anti-
Socialism/Communism and once it had been signed, anti-the Treaty of Versailles. Many members of
the Freikorps had fought in World War One and had military experience. They did not believe that
Germany had suffered a military defeat in World War One and members of the Freikorps were very
vocal supporters of the ‘stab-in-the-back’ legend.
The Freikorps was used to put down the German Revolution of 1918-1919 and it crushed the
Bavarian Soviet Republic in May 1919. A Freikorps unit in Berlin attempted to overthrow Ebert’s
government (first president of the German Republic from 1919 to 1925, member of the Socialist
Party).
Members of the Freikorps also murdered leading communists Karl Liebknicht and Rosa
Luxemburg. Many of the Freikorps escaped without punishment for their crimes or sentenced to
only brief periods in jail.
The Freikorps officially disbanded in 1920 but many members joined the Nazi Party and
became the party’s original enforcers.
Political Activity: NSDAP.
After World War I, Hitler returned to Munich and continued to work for the military as an
intelligence officer. While monitoring the activities of the German Workers’ Party (DAP), Hitler
adopted many of the anti-Semitic, nationalist and anti-Marxist ideas of DAP founder Anton Drexler.
Drexler invited Hitler to join the DAP, which he did in 1919.
To increase its appeal, the DAP changed its name to the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche
Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP). Hitler personally designed the party banner, featuring a swastika in a
white circle on a red background. Hitler soon gained notoriety for his speeches against the Treaty of
Versailles, rival politicians, Marxists and Jews. In 1921, Hitler replaced Drexler as NSDAP party
chairman.
Beer Hall Putsch (1923).
Hitler's beer-hall speeches began attracting regular audiences. Early followers included
army captain Ernst Rohm, the head of the Nazi paramilitary organization, the Sturmabteilung (SA),
which protected meetings and frequently attacked political opponents.
On November 8th and 9
to attempt an overthrow of the regional
government in Munich in prelude to the
takeover of the national government. This
incident is generally known as the Beer Hall
Putsch.
On November 8th 1923, the Bavarian Prime Minister, Gustav Kahr, was
around 3000 businessmen at a beer hall in
Munich. Kahr was joined by some of the most
senior men in Bavarian politics including Seisser, Bavaria’s police chief, and Lossow, the local
army commander. Then, Hitler and the 600 SA stormed the public meeting. Hitler announced that
the national revolution had begun and declared the formation of a new government. After a short