Adolf Hitler is one of the most reviled figures in human history. His political ideologies led to the events of the Second World War and his rise to power is viewed as a cautionary tale in politics all over the world.
Since his death in 1945, historians have been fascinated by the life of Adolf Hitler and have tried to learn as much about him as possible. The following are ten interesting facts about Adolf Hitler.
Adolf Hitler Interesting Facts
1. Adolf Hitler was Austrian
This interesting fact about Adolf Hitler may come across as quite surprising given how closely linked Hitler is to German nationalism but he was actually born an Austrian.
Hitler’s resent towards the Austro-Hungarian Empire grew in his early years and was largely credited to one of his teachers, Leonard Poetsch, who preached about Germany during classes.
Hitler’s dislike of the Austro-Hungarian Empire led to him surrendering his Austrian citizenship in 1925. He would actually remain stateless for several years before finally getting his full German citizenship in the early 1930s.
2. Adolf Hitler fought in World War I
When World War I began, Hitler moved from Austria to Germany to avoid being called up to the Austrian army. He would, however, volunteer for the German army and fight for them throughout the war.
Hitler received an iron-cross for his service in the war, though, there have been many disputes as to what he actually did to earn this. According to his own version of events, he fought bravely in the war and was in constant danger every day, though, some records contradict these claims.
He was blinded by mustard gas towards the end of the war and was in the hospital when Germany surrendered. This is said to have been a pivotal moment in creating the man that he would go on to become.
3. Adolf Hitler and the Beer Hall Putsch
The earliest sign of Adolf Hitler’s political intentions was the failed beer hall pustch in 1924. Hitler, along with around 2,000 other Nazis, attempted to storm a rally being held by another right-wing leader in Munich, which is an interesting fact about Adolf Hitler.
The Nazis were met by the police and the fight that broke out saw the death of 14 Nazis and four police officers. Hitler was wounded in the fight but managed to escape. He was arrested for treason a few days later.
4. Mein Kampf
While in Prison in 1924, Hitler began to pen his controversial two-part memoir, Mein Kampf (My Struggle). The book documented his life and his ideologies, specifically his anti-Semitic beliefs. The fact that Adolf Hitler wrote this book is probably one of the most well-known facts about Adolf Hitler.
The book would go on to become a best-seller in Germany and would become required reading in schools. It was immediately banned in Germany and several other countries following the death of Hitler and the end of the Second World War.
The book is now widely available in most countries, though, some it is still banned in some. The first copies sold in Germany after the end of the Second World War became available in 2016.
5. Adolf Hitler was never elected
Adolf Hitler ran for President of Germany in 1932 as a candidate for the Nazi Party. He would receive 36% of the vote, losing to Paul von Hindenburg, who received 53% of the vote.
In the federal election later that year, however, the Nazi Party would go on to win 37.3% of the vote, winning 208 seats in the Reichstag in the process. Despite not having a clear majority to rule, this made the Nazi Party the biggest party in Germany at the time and Hindenburg would then go on to appoint Hitler as Chancellor of Germany.
Once Hindenberg died in 1934, Hitler would ascend and assume the position of leader and chancellor, becoming a dictator.
6. Adolf Hitler was awarded Time’s Man of the Year
In 1938, just one year before he would invade Poland and start the biggest conflict in human history, Adolf Hitler was awarded Man of the Year by Time Magazine, which is not a well-known fact about Adolf Hitler.
Time Magazine has awarded this prize to several of history’s most notorious figures though, and it is important to note that it is actually awarded to the person who they feel has been the most discussed or who has had the most impact, whether that is positive or negative.
7. Adolf Hitler and World War II
Adolf Hitler was the central figure of World War 2. On September 1st, 1939, Germany invaded Poland under orders from Hitler. Just two days later, France and Great Britain declared war on Hitler and Germany.
The war would last for six years, with Germany finally surrendering on May 7th, 1945, one week after Hitler had committed suicide.
The Second World War is one of the greatest tragedies in human history, with an estimated 70-85 million people dying during the conflict. This was approximately 2% of the world’s total population at the time.
8.The Final Solution
The Final Solution was the Nazi Party’s plan to systematically eliminate the Jewish population. The exact source of the phrase remains unknown, though, it is clear that the Nazi’s implementing the plan over the course of a decade.
The establishment of ghettos and concentration camps were the final stages of the plan, and millions of Jewish people were gassed, tortured and shot under orders of the Nazi Party of Germany.
The Holocaust claimed the lives of over 6 million Jewish people and several of the concentration camps, most notably, Auschwitz, still exist to this day as a reminder of the atrocities committed.
9. Adolf Hitler committed suicide
With the battle of Berlin coming to an end and Germany looking depleted, Hitler married his wife Eva Braun in a quiet ceremony before the couple would commit suicide a couple of days later, which is an interesting fact about Adolf Hitler.
Hitler had been informed of the death of Mussolini and the public humiliation that had followed. Realizing he was defeated and not wanting to be made a spectacle of, Hitler and Braun both retired to their bunker on April 30 and committed suicide. Hitler is said to have shot himself in the head, while Braun took a cyanide tablet.
Upon Hitler’s orders, their bodies were immediately burned. There are several different versions of events when it comes to Hitler’s death, though, many of these are believed to have been Soviet propaganda following the war.
10. Adolf Hitler was an alleged animal lover
One of the oddest facts about Adolf Hitler is that despite his clear disregard for human life, he was alleged to have been incredibly fond of animals.
Hitler allegedly also promoted a health conscious lifestyle for his Aryan race and was said to have been a strict non-smoker or drinker. There are also several reports, however, that suggest that Hitler did in fact use cocaine on a daily basis that had been prescribed to him by his doctor.
The life of Adolf Hitler can be used to teach us many lessons about the dangers of certain political ideologies and historians are constantly analyzing the social and economic environment that led to his rise in power.
He is regularly referenced in popular culture and his life will no doubt continue to be a source of contention for centuries to come.
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