Adolf Hitler (20 Apr. 1889 - 30 Apr. 1945)
Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and 'Fuhrer und Reichskanzler' in 1934. The fuhrer rearmed Germany in spite of the Treaty of Versailles and helped to rebuild the fractured German economy - though some historians argue that this was only due to the pre-war instigation of a war economy. His foreign policy centred around Lebensraum, the belief that lands to the east (occupied by Poland and other nations) belonged rightfully to the Germans.
In 1938, Hitler unified Germany and Austria in the Anschluss, and in September signed the Munich Agreement, giving Germany the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. Following the signing of the non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union, Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September 1939. After the fall of Poland, Hitler amassed forces in the west. In 1940, Hitler commanded the invasions of Denmark and Norway (April), and of France and the Benelux nations (May).
In September of that year, Hitler signed the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Japan, creating the Axis Powers. In October, Hitler ordered the bombing of British cities. Hitler further invaded Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete in 1941. June of 1941 saw also the invasion of the Soviet Union - Operation Barbarossa. The German army advanced quickly, seizing the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus, before becoming stagnant from Russian retaliation and the onset of winter.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Hitler declared war on the US. In 1942, the German army was defeated by British and Allied forces at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and 1943 saw German defeat at the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. These losses proved the erratic way in which Hitler had become with regards to his military tactics. Also at this time, his health began to fail.
Hitler survived an assassination attempt in 1944 (Operation Valkyrie) whilst at the Wolfsshanze (Wolf's Lair) fortress. Hitler's reactionary reprisals cost the lives of approximately 5,000 people.
By late 1944 the Allied forces had landed in France and the Soviet Union was marching from the east. On April 29 1945, Hitler married his long-term partner, Eva Braun, and committed suicide the next day, along with his wife and favourite dog, Blondie.
Adolf Hitler will always live in infamy because of his extremist views, his central role in the Holocaust and for the extermination of Jews, socialists, homosexuals, gypsies and other 'undesirables'.
For more information on Adolf Hitler:
Kershaw, Ian. Hitler, 1936 - 1945: Nemesis. (London: Penguin), 2001.
Langer, Walter. The Mind of Adolf Hitler. (London: Book Club Associates), 1973.
Strawson, John. Hitler as Military Commander. (London: B.T. Batsford), 1971.
In 1938, Hitler unified Germany and Austria in the Anschluss, and in September signed the Munich Agreement, giving Germany the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. Following the signing of the non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union, Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September 1939. After the fall of Poland, Hitler amassed forces in the west. In 1940, Hitler commanded the invasions of Denmark and Norway (April), and of France and the Benelux nations (May).
In September of that year, Hitler signed the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Japan, creating the Axis Powers. In October, Hitler ordered the bombing of British cities. Hitler further invaded Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete in 1941. June of 1941 saw also the invasion of the Soviet Union - Operation Barbarossa. The German army advanced quickly, seizing the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus, before becoming stagnant from Russian retaliation and the onset of winter.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Hitler declared war on the US. In 1942, the German army was defeated by British and Allied forces at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and 1943 saw German defeat at the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. These losses proved the erratic way in which Hitler had become with regards to his military tactics. Also at this time, his health began to fail.
Hitler survived an assassination attempt in 1944 (Operation Valkyrie) whilst at the Wolfsshanze (Wolf's Lair) fortress. Hitler's reactionary reprisals cost the lives of approximately 5,000 people.
By late 1944 the Allied forces had landed in France and the Soviet Union was marching from the east. On April 29 1945, Hitler married his long-term partner, Eva Braun, and committed suicide the next day, along with his wife and favourite dog, Blondie.
Adolf Hitler will always live in infamy because of his extremist views, his central role in the Holocaust and for the extermination of Jews, socialists, homosexuals, gypsies and other 'undesirables'.
For more information on Adolf Hitler:
Kershaw, Ian. Hitler, 1936 - 1945: Nemesis. (London: Penguin), 2001.
Langer, Walter. The Mind of Adolf Hitler. (London: Book Club Associates), 1973.
Strawson, John. Hitler as Military Commander. (London: B.T. Batsford), 1971.