Adolf Hitler example essay topic

Adolf Hitler's determination to dominate the human race sparked the beginnings of the Second World War. Some people might say that this quality did not have anything to do with being a military genius and a good leader, which is not true. Hitler was a military genius. Hitler started out as a soldier in WWII, after four years as a soldier; he joined a tiny right-wing party called the "German Worker's Party" in 1919.

And, once he joined, he had no problem quickly dominating and changing the name to the National Socialist German Worker (or NAZI) Party in 1921. In 1923, he attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government for which he served a term of imprisonment. He appealed to people because he was a strong public speaker and he publicly blamed the Jews for WWII, bringing up past German hatred for this group of people. Some might say that this is not military genius but, on the contrary, if he didn't acquire followers, he would have no one to fight for what he believed.

In the early 1930's Hitler was announced chancellor of Germany. The government figured if they gave him a small amount of power, it would tone down his need for harsh actions against "non-Aryans" as Hitler liked to call them. However, the government was mistaken, this small amount of power was all Hitler needed to make the beginnings of the mass genocide of anyone Hitler did not see would fit into his superior race of people. Although Hitler's dynamic public speaking ability had the most effect on the German population, the superfluous propaganda helped to shove them in the 'right' direction. Posters, paintings, pamphlets and postcards, all covered in anti-Semitist or pro-Hitler slogans were thrown all around the city. These things gave Hitler an almost god-like quality that people were drawn to.

The persecution of Jews in Germany started as soon as Hitler came to power in 1933. In an anti-Semitist pamphlet that Hitler published he had this to say about the non-Aryan race; "Is it any wonder that the Jew is arrogant? The greater the Jewish influence the more secure they feel, and the more ominously and clearly their character and goals becomes clear: Pride, intolerance and superiority on the one hand, a drive for world domination on the other". (Veenstra) His miss-treatment of Jews began with laws forcing Jews out of certain areas, shops and schools.

"After the Nazis conquest of mainland Europe, Jewish persecution included forced labor and, eventually mass deportation and imprisonment and death in concentration camps". - (Student Desk Reference pg- 246) The number of Jews murdered by Nazis between 1941 and 1945 as part of Hitler's "Final Solution" is somewhere in the six million range. Much of the killings took place in death camps where Jews were put in gas chambers. Once Hitler was appointed chancellor, he outlawed all other political parties, and declared himself Fuehrer. Therefore, he got rid of anyone who did not believe in the same things he did, and paved the way for Nazis to gain more control of German citizens, anyone who spoke out against Hitler's beliefs was either imprisoned or killed.

Throughout his struggle for power, he was obsessed with the idea of expanding, controlling, and using the armed forces. The withdrawal from the League of Nations and their disarmament conference in October 1933 was presented as a reluctant response to the allies. This was only the beginning. During WWII, Hitler appointed himself Commander in Chief; this held his place of having command of all military operations. "During the First Year of Nazi Regime, Hitler, who started as the solitary Nazi in the cabinet, had been consolidating his grip on the country with much success". (Bradley PG 89) "One of Hitler's most notable and successful techniques was to disguise each one of his aggressive moves as one designed essentially for the security of the Reich.

One feature was common to every method of solution; force, or the threat of force had to be present". (Strawson PG 56) Hitler often spoke about treaties and agreements in his powerful and moving speeches, "I am willing to sign anything, I will do anything to facilitate the success of my policy. I am prepared to guarantee all frontiers and to make non-aggression pacts and friendly alliances. It would be sheer stupidity to refuse to make use of such measures merely because one might possibly be driven into a position where solemn promise would have been broken. There has never been a sworn treaty, which has not sooner or later been broken or become unattainable. There is no such thing as an everlasting treaty.

Anyone whose conscience is so tender that he will not sign a treaty unless he can feel sure he can keep it in all circumstances is a fool"- (Last rane pg 72) He often expressed these feeling towards the Treaty of Versailles, saying that it was an embarrassment to Germany and that it should be torn up. Adolf Hitler preached to the assembled German soldiers at Nuremberg and the Nazi party, faithful that they were a superior race that deserved more than they had, including additional living space, and a higher standard of living. Hitler was an emotional speaker who had a mesmerizing effect on those who listened. By 1938 he had amassed the best-equipped, best-trained army in the world. Hitler's ability to justify aggressive acts which he had already decided on, and the details had already been worked out could hardly be better shown through the fact that almost 3 weeks before this speech, Hitler ordered Von Blumberg to issue the armed services the first directive for planning the Rhineland's reoccupation. A move by Hitler that disturbed the mastiff's peace of mind, was ordering the reoccupation of Rhineland.

In doing this, Hitler pulled off one of the most colossal pieces of bluff in history. Force and fraud were never put together at such a better advantage. Hitler declared that war was an every day business, and a natural state of affairs. Another example is shown in 1938, "After reaching an agreement with Hitler in September, the British and French forced the Czechs to surrender without a fight. Hitler promised that this was his last demand, but, in 6 months, Germany occupied Czech". - (Hoffman Pg #83) The day of Hitler's attack on Poland was the day WWII began.

The breakdown of collective security enabled the Nazis attack. However, Hitler and Benito Mussolini helped the fascists to power in Spain, and Hitler's Policy of National Aggression also led to the outbreak of WWII. To rally his troops around him, he made use of his favorite phrase, that he was no more than German Reich's first soldier. This was one of Hitler's "charms of the crowd" he could make anyone feel as though they could be just as great as he was, that he was no more than a mere man just like everyone else.

This was one of the reasons Hitler acquired so many followers. "He had talked of war as the summit of Human achievement, a natural ultimate stage in man's historical development"- (Strawson PG#36) In doing so, Hitler made war seem like the heroic thing to do, a romantic fantasy that caused young men to join arms and fight for the "Master Race". In 1940, Hitler's Blitzkrieg (or Lightning War), enabled Germany to conquer Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. This also caused 33,490 Allied troops to evacuate Dunkirk.

After this defeat, Italy joined Germany in the war against Britain and France. However, The Battle of Britain ended in a British victory and the Germans launch a bombing blitz against Britain. But Hitler's victories would soon fall short. In 1943, Hitler's regime would take a devastating blow that would eventually lead to the downfall of Hitler himself.

The Battle of Stalingrad in the German invasion of USSR in January of that year was one of the most important German defeats during Hitler's control. It led to the notion that, yes, Adolf Hitler could be defeated. Hitler's men were not used to the harsh winters of the USSR (it was exceptionally brutal that year) and most died of hypothermia, or were too weak to fight. It also didn't help that the soviets had the "home field advantage" so to speak. The Germans didn't know their way around the area and could not navigate in the harsh weather. This was Hitler's biggest mistake.

It eventually led to Berlin falling to the Allies in 1945. Even though Hitler made mistakes, his military strategies were some of the best the world has ever seen. His willingness to take risks was what kept him one step ahead of his competitors. Even though Hitler hardly ever used his abilities for the greater good, he was still a very smart man. Hitler at Nuremberg Pro-Hitler Poster During WWII These are various paintings of Hitler done during the war. These portray him as almost a god-like creature, standing above all to protect his country.

The Percentage of Jews in the University system who, according to Hitler, were taking over the minds of the youth of America. It is easy to see how he could turn so many groups against these people. Jews were in control of many things in the society. 1. University of Berlin: Medical faculty... Over 50% Philosophical faculty...

25% 2. University of G"ott ingen, 32% of the professors were Jewish: Legal Facult. 47.0% Medical facult 34.0% Philosophical facult. 40.0% Mathematics and Natural Sciences...

23.0% 3. University of Breslau Legal Facult. 30.0% Medical facult 37.0% Philosophical facult... 25.0% 4.

University of Frankfurt (Main) Legal Facult. 55.0% Philosophical facult 14.0% Mathematics and Natural Sciences... 28.0% Medical facult... 21.0% Economic 28.0% Trying to prove that Jews were taking over the educational system, not leaving room for the 'master race'

Bibliography

Bradley, John. The Illustrated History of the Third Reich. PRC Publishing Ltd. Land an. 1978.
Freeman, Charles. The Rise of the Nazis. Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers. Italy. 1998.
Pearson, Eileen. Hitler's Reich. George G. Harrat & Co. Ltd. Germany. 1980 Simpson, William.
Hitler and Germany. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. New York. 1991.
Strawson, John. Hitler as Military Commander. New York: Barnes and Noble Inc., 1971.
Waite, Robert G.L. Hitler and Nazi Germany. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston U.S.A. 1965.
Various Authors. Student Handbook Desk Reference Nashville, Tennessee Southwestern Company Inc. 1998 Veenstra, Rob web April, 2002 Revised by Randall By twerk.