Hitler And His Downfall Essay Research Paper

Hitler And His Downfall Essay, Research Paper

Hitler and His Downfall

To many World War II has been the most devastating war in human history. It had been global military conflict that caused the loss of millions of lives as well as material destruction. The war began in Europe in September of 1939. It ended on May 8, 1945. This day was marked by the British government as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The outcome of this war left a new world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunuam Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889 and died (committed suicide) on April 30, 1945. He was the son of a minor customs official and a peasant girl. He had a love for reading although he never completed high school and was rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna due to his lack of talent. Through reading he developed his anti-democratic and anti-Jewish beliefs, the admiration for the outstanding individual and contempt for the masses. By volunteering for service in the Baverian Army during World War I, he proved himself as a dedicated and courageous soldier. Since his sponsors felt that he lacked in leadership quantities, he was never promoted beyond private first class. In September 1919, Hitler joined the Nationalist German Workers Party later changed its name to the National Social German Workers (Nazi) Party. To become the leader of Germany, he took advantage of the Great Depression of 1929 and explained it as a Jewish Communist plot. Through promises of a strong Germany, more jobs and national glory, he gained popularity and was appointed chancellor in January 1933. Once in power, he established himself as a dictator.

After World War I, Germany was dissatisfied with the outcome of the war. There were large reparations to pay, their military power had been restrained, they suffered and resented the territorial losses some of which were withheld as collateral, and Germany had been held accountable for the entire war. Germany felt that they had been treated unjustly. Their sense of German nationalism began to grow. Thus, Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations in October 1933.

Hitler’s first step to dominate this area failed in 1934. The first Anschluss, which is the unification of Germany and Austria, was stopped by Italy’s Mussolini. At this time, Mussolini feared Hitler and Germany but through the Spanish Civil War, they became allies and signed the Anti-Cominterm Pact along with Japan. This pact was to resist the expansion of communism. With Mussolini now on his side, Anschuluss was a success in March of 1939. This move strengthened Germany’s economy and put them in a better position strategically, with Italy.

Czechoslovakia’s Sudatan lands were Hitler’s next step. To gain this territory Hitler demanded self-determination for the Germans in this region. Therefore the Munich Conference took place in September 1938 and the results of this were the Sudatan Germans were seceded to Germany. Present at this conference were representatives from Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy. Czechoslovakia was not represented. Poland then laid claims on Teschen and Hungary on Carpatho-Ruthenia.

Hitler gained these areas by giving the west the impression that the only reason he wanted them was to unify the Germans and Germany. The west, Great Britain and France, allowed this because of a policy they had toward Hitler and Germany called appeasement. The two main reasons they followed this policy was the fear of Bolshevism and an attempt to prevent another war.

The next step for Hitler was the complete occupation of Czech. This was accomplished on March 1939, just six months after the Munich conference. Slovakia was left alone by Hitler’s men but was an independent state. Its Independence was just a front for Hitler to create a puppet state. Hitler’s victory in Czechoslovakia greatly enhanced their military position, but above all helped arm his men with the aid of the Skoda Works, which was now under the control of Germany. The Skoda Works was the largest arms manufacturer in Europe. Czechoslovakia had no alternative but to accept Hitler’s rule.

This was the end of the appeasement from Great Britain and France. They then made a guarantee to both Poland and Bulgaria that in the event of a German attack, they would come to their aid.

Hitler’s next effort was directed towards Poland with the excuse of regaining Danzig and the corridor to unit Germany. On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded and attacked an incapable Polish army. While Germany invaded with tanks and planes, Poland countered with men on horseback. Polish troops not only fought against the Germans but against the Russians on the Eastern border. In less than a month Poland was completely occupied by Germany and Russia. Russia took up to the Curzon line and Germany annexed the all-German areas in the west. The center of Poland was left as a German Protectorate, where the concentration camps were located. Neither Yugoslavia nor Bulgaria, both allies of Poland went to her aid. Also Great Britain did nothing to support their guarantee. This marked the beginning of World War II, a battle that was felt in more places than just Eastern Europe.

Some people believe that the moment Hitler set foot into Poland; it was the beginning of the end for Hitler. By attacking Poland, Hitler forced Great Britain