THE RICE OF ADOLF HITLER

The purpose of historical knowledge -- The extraordinary popular interest in Hitler -- Its development and continuation -- His treatment by historians -- Its evolution -- The relationship of history and biography -- Principal problems -- The documentary problems -- The limits of our knowledge

Adolf Hitler

Synopsis

Adolf Hitler, a charismatic, Austrian-born demagogue, rose to power in Germany during the 1920s and early 1930s at a time of social, political, and economic upheaval. Failing to take power by force in 1923, he eventually won power by democratic means. Once in power, he eliminated all opposition and launched an ambitious program of world domination and elimination of the Jews, paralleling ideas he advanced in his book, Mein Kampf. His "1,000 Year Reich" barely lasted 12 years and he died a broken and defeated man.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

Students will learn:

1. Facts about Hitler's life and the historical events which occurred during that time.

2. Hitler's view of history, his theory of race, and his political goals.

3. Hitler's use of anti-Semitism to advance his career and to consolidate power.

4. How a political leader was able to manipulate the political system in a democracy and obtain autocratic power.

Hitler's World War I Service

When World War I was touched off by the assassination by a Serb of the heir to the Austrian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Hitler's passions against foreigners, particularly Slavs, were inflamed. He was caught up in the patriotism of the time, and submitted a petition to enlist in the Bavarian army.

After less than two months of training, Hitler's regiment saw its first combat near Ypres, against the British and Belgians. Hitler narrowly escaped death in battle several times, and was eventually awarded two Iron Crosses for bravery. He rose to the rank of lance corporal but no further. In October 1916, he was wounded by an enemy shell and evacuated to a Berlin area hospital. After recovering, and serving a total of four years in the trenches, he was temporarily blinded by a mustard gas attack in Belgium in October 1918.

Communist-inspired insurrections shook Germany while Hitler was recovering from his injuries. Some Jews were leaders of these abortive revolutions, and this inspired hatred of Jews as well as Communists. On November 9th, the Kaiser abdicated and the Socialists gained control of the government. Anarchy was more the rule in the cities.

Hitler Launches the War

Hitler ordered the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938. Hitler's army invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, sparking France and England to declare war on Germany. A Blitzkrieg (lightning war) of German tanks and infantry swept through most of Western Europe as nation after nation fell to the German war machine.

In 1941, Hitler ignored a non-aggression pact he had signed with the Soviet Union in August 1939. Several early victories after the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, were reversed with crushing defeats at Moscow (December 1941) and Stalingrad (winter, 1942-43). The United States entered the war in December 1941. By 1944, the Allies invaded occupied Europe at Normandy Beach on the French coast, German cities were being destroyed by bombing, and Italy, Germany's major ally under the leadership of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, had fallen.

Hitler's Last Days

Several attempts were made on Hitler's life during the war, but none was successful. As the war appeared to be inevitably lost and his hand-picked lieutenants, seeing the futility, defied his orders, he killed himself on April 30, 1945. His long-term mistress and new bride, Eva Braun, joined him in suicide. By that time, one of his chief objectives was achieved with the annihilation of two-thirds of European Jewry.

ACTIVITIES

• Research the early childhood of several left-wing and right-wing dictators. Are there any similarities?
• Compile a list of demagogues in U.S. history. What issues were they promoting, and to what prejudices did they appeal?
• Research Hitler's family tree. How valid are the views of some historians that Hitler had Jewish ancestors who did not pass Hitler's test for being of "pure Aryan" stock?
• View a videotape of a speech by Hitler with English subtitles. Would the content of this speech have any relevance today? Follow this speech with an "instant analysis" network TV broadcast. If television had been available and had covered Hitler's speeches, how different would the coverage have been in Hitler's Germany compared to that which would occur in the United States today?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• If Hitler were alive and able to visit your classroom today, what questions would you ask him? How would you think he would have answered these questions?
• Why did ex-soldiers join the Free Corps?
• Why was it significant that Hitler and the German Workers' Party were able to purchase a newspaper?
• Why was it significant that The Protocols were published in a newspaper?
• Who owns the various newspapers which are available in your community, including those distributed for free?
• How influential are newspapers in shaping the opinions of those who read them?

THNANKS