Emblem of the Wehmacht, the Nazi army of World War II. Metal bas-relief of a German cross. Balkenkreuz. Blackened old metal.

Adolf Hitler Historical Documentation

A comprehensive historical resource documenting the life, rise to power, policies, and impact of Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

1889-1945

Lifespan

1933-1945

Years in Power

Nazi Germany

Third Reich

Educational Purpose

This documentation is provided for historical and educational purposes only. It aims to present factual historical information about one of the most significant and devastating periods in human history, including the Holocaust and World War II.

Early Life & Background

Origins and Early Years

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, a small town on the Austrian-German border. He was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl.

His childhood was marked by conflict with his authoritarian father, who died in 1903. Hitler's mother, whom he was close to, died of breast cancer in 1907, a loss that deeply affected him.

Key Early Life Facts:

Born in Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Failed to gain admission to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts twice (1907-1908)
Lived in poverty in Vienna (1908-1913), selling postcards and paintings
Moved to Munich, Germany in 1913
Served in World War I (1914-1918) in the Bavarian Army

1889

Born in Austria

Emblem of the Nazi army from World war two - Wehrmacht. The Balkenkreuz

Political Career

Rise to Power

Hitler's transformation from a struggling artist to the leader of Nazi Germany

1919

Joins the German Workers' Party (DAP)

After World War I, Hitler was employed by the German army to spy on political parties. He joined the German Workers' Party, which later became the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).

1921

Becomes Party Leader

Hitler became chairman of the Nazi Party, replacing Anton Drexler. He began to build a cult of personality around himself and developed his oratory skills.

1923

Beer Hall Putsch

Hitler attempted to seize power in Munich through a coup d'état. The putsch failed, and Hitler was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison (serving only nine months). During this time, he wrote Mein Kampf ("My Struggle").

1933

Appointed Chancellor of Germany

On January 30, 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor. The Nazi Party exploited the Reichstag fire in February 1933 to consolidate power, suspending civil liberties and eliminating political opposition.

1934

Becomes Führer

After Hindenburg's death in August 1934, Hitler merged the offices of Chancellor and President, declaring himself Führer (Leader) of Germany. This gave him absolute power over the state.

Historical Documentation

Visual History of Nazi Germany

Historical photographs and artifacts from the Third Reich period

Gomel, Belarus - November 26, 2017: German soldiers guard germanium Wehrmacht World War II come to the checkpoint. Black and white image photo

Wehrmacht Checkpoint

Historical photograph

Wehrmacht infantry gear details, mountain rucksack and gas mask canister, German historical reenactment uniforms, WWII soldier equipment and splittertarn camouflage close-up.

Wehrmacht Equipment

Military gear and uniforms

World War II period german army handgun with german award Iron Cross 1914 on camouflaged background

Iron Cross Award

Military decoration

Wehrmacht Emblem

Balkenkreuz symbol

Gomel, Belarus - November 26, 2017: German soldiers in captivity go in line for Soviet soldiers

German POWs

Soviet captivity, WWII

World War II German wehrmacht Soldier officer Commander Soldiers Of World War II Briefs, Showing Direction Of A Attack On Map.

Wehrmacht Officers

Military planning, WWII

Historical Context

These images represent historical artifacts, military equipment, and reenactments documenting the Nazi German military (Wehrmacht) during World War II. They serve as educational materials to understand this dark period of history.

Nazi Germany Policies

The Third Reich

Key policies and characteristics of Nazi Germany under Hitler's rule (1933-1945)

Totalitarian Dictatorship

Hitler established a one-party state with absolute control over all aspects of German life, eliminating democratic institutions and civil liberties.

Antisemitism & Racism

The Nazi regime promoted virulent antisemitism and racial ideology, leading to the persecution and genocide of Jewish people and other minorities.

Nuremberg Laws (1935)

Discriminatory laws that stripped Jews of German citizenship, prohibited marriage between Jews and non-Jews, and severely restricted Jewish rights.

Economic Policies

Focus on rearmament, public works projects (Autobahn), and reduction of unemployment through military buildup and war economy preparation.

Expansionist Foreign Policy

Pursuit of Lebensraum (living space), rearmament in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, annexation of Austria (1938), and invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Propaganda & Censorship

Joseph Goebbels led the Ministry of Propaganda, controlling media, arts, and culture to promote Nazi ideology and suppress dissent.

Crimes Against Humanity

The Nazi regime was responsible for the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of approximately six million Jews, along with millions of other victims including Roma people, disabled individuals, political prisoners, homosexuals, and others deemed "undesirable" by the regime.

1939-1945

World War II

The Second World War

Hitler's aggressive expansionist policies led directly to the outbreak of World War II on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

Major Events:

1

Invasion of Poland (1939)

Britain and France declared war on Germany

2

Blitzkrieg Campaigns (1940)

Rapid conquest of Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, and France

3

Operation Barbarossa (1941)

Invasion of the Soviet Union, the largest military operation in history

4

Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)

Turning point on the Eastern Front; German defeat

5

D-Day (1944)

Allied invasion of Normandy began liberation of Western Europe

6

Fall of Berlin (1945)

Soviet forces captured Berlin; Germany surrendered

War Casualties

World War II resulted in an estimated 70-85 million deaths worldwide, making it the deadliest conflict in human history. This includes military personnel and civilians.

Crimes Against Humanity

The Holocaust

The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jewish people and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators

Timeline & Process

The Holocaust evolved through several stages: legal discrimination (1933-1939), ghettoization (1939-1941), mass shootings by Einsatzgruppen (1941), and systematic extermination in death camps (1942-1945).

Concentration & Death Camps

The Nazi regime established a vast network of camps across Europe. Major extermination camps included:

Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland)
Treblinka (Poland)
Sobibor (Poland)
Belzec (Poland)
Majdanek (Poland)
Chelmno (Poland)

Victim Groups

While Jews were the primary targets, the Nazi genocide also targeted:

~6 million

Jewish people

~500,000

Roma & Sinti

~250,000

Disabled people

Thousands

Homosexuals

Thousands

Jehovah's Witnesses

Thousands

Political prisoners

Liberation & Discovery

Allied forces liberated concentration camps in 1944-1945, discovering the full horror of the Nazi genocide. The Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946) prosecuted major war criminals.

"Never Forget"

The Holocaust stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history, a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred, racism, and totalitarianism.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed annually on January 27th, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Final Days

Death and Legacy

As Allied forces closed in on Berlin in April 1945, Hitler retreated to his underground bunker (the Führerbunker) beneath the Reich Chancellery.

Final Events:

April 29, 1945: Hitler married his longtime companion Eva Braun in the bunker
April 30, 1945: Hitler and Braun died by suicide in the bunker. Hitler shot himself while Braun ingested cyanide
Their bodies were carried outside, doused with petrol, and burned as Soviet forces approached
May 7-8, 1945: Germany surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II in Europe

War Crimes Accountability

While Hitler escaped prosecution through suicide, many Nazi leaders were tried at the Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946). The trials established important precedents for international law and the prosecution of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Lazany, Czech republic - June 3, 2017. Concentration camp Vojna is a outdoor musem near Pribram, Czech Republic, where used to be detained prisoners of State in the communist era of the country (1948-1989).

Remembrance

Memorials worldwide commemorate Holocaust victims and WWII casualties

Historical Impact

Legacy and Historical Significance

The enduring impact of Hitler's regime on world history, international law, and collective memory

International Law

The Nuremberg Trials established precedents for prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. This led to the creation of:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Genocide Convention (1948)
International Criminal Court (2002)

Geopolitical Changes

World War II fundamentally reshaped the global order:

Division of Germany (1949-1990)
Formation of the United Nations (1945)
Beginning of the Cold War
Establishment of Israel (1948)

Holocaust Education

Extensive efforts to document, study, and teach about the Holocaust:

Holocaust museums and memorials worldwide
Mandatory education in many countries
Survivor testimonies and archives
Academic research and documentation

Prevention of Extremism

The Nazi legacy serves as a warning against:

Totalitarian ideologies and dictatorships
Racism, antisemitism, and hatred
Propaganda and misinformation
Denial of human rights and dignity

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

— George Santayana, philosopher

Further Learning

Resources & References

Educational institutions, museums, and archives for deeper historical understanding

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Washington, D.C., USA

America's national institution for Holocaust documentation, remembrance, and education.

Yad Vashem

Jerusalem, Israel

The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, dedicated to preserving the memory of Holocaust victims.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial

Oświęcim, Poland

Preserved site of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp complex.

German Federal Archives

Multiple locations, Germany

Extensive documentation of Nazi Germany, including government records and historical materials.

Wiener Holocaust Library

London, UK

World's oldest Holocaust library and archive, established in 1933.

USC Shoah Foundation

Los Angeles, USA

Visual history archive with over 55,000 Holocaust survivor testimonies.

Key Historical Works

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

by William L. Shirer

Hitler: A Biography

by Ian Kershaw

The Holocaust: A New History

by Laurence Rees

The Coming of the Third Reich

by Richard J. Evans