Hitler's Early Life
Hitler when he was a baby
Adolf Hitler
was born on 20th April, 1889, in an Austrian town named Braunau near
the German border. Hitler’s father, Alois Hitler, came from a poor family and
was an illegitimate son of a housemaid. However, Alois was intelligent and
ambitious. He later became a senior customs official in the Austrian government.
Adolf Hitler’s mother, Klara Hitler, came from a poor family,too. And she was a
lot younger than Adolf’s father.
Alois was extremely concerned for his son’s well-being in his life. Adolf Hitler was Alois’ second son, however, Alois’ first son had been a complete failure. To Alois’ pleasure, Hitler did extremely well at primary school. He was very popular with other students and was much admired for his leadership qualities. He was very religious in his early years and had considered to become a monk.
Unfortunately, Hitler did not do as well in secondary school. There were several possible reasons for that. One was that his little brother died in 1900, thus changing Hitler from an outgoing boy to a sullen teenage. Another reason was that the secondary school that he went to was a lot larger and tougher. Hitler did not excel at first; however, he did not persist. He simply gave up and stopped trying. His father was furious as he had high expectations for Hitler. He got even angrier when Hitler did not join the Austrian civil service when he left school. Hitler did not have a nice relationship with his father since he frequently beat Hitler. In his secondary school, Hitler faced many problems. He lost his popularity with his fellow students. They were no longer willing to accept him as one of their leaders. Hitler soon found his obsession with German nationalism, as a way to rebel against his father, who proudly served the Austrian government. Later on, Hitler dropped out of his secondary school without a certificate. He went to Vienna in hope of becoming an artist. During this time, his father died and Hitler became even more bitter and rebellious.
In Vienna, the Vienna Academy of Art and the Vienna School of Architecture rejected Hitler’s application because he did not have a school leaving certificate. Hitler was severely humiliated and did not tell his mother about that. Hitler pretended to be a student while wondering around Vienna.
In 1909, Hitler was expected to register for Austrian military service, however, he was unwilling to serve Austria which he despised. Interestingly, the seemingly powerful Hitler was once rejected by the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914 for being “Unfit for combatant and auxiliary duty - too weak. Unable to bear arms.”
Unwilling to fight for Austrian army, Hitler volunteered for the German Army. He enjoyed his time in the army because he was part of a group that was fighting for a common goal. He had that sense of belonging which he had not had since primary school. He impressed his commanders by volunteering for dangerous missions. He was given the job dispatch runner. It was a very dangerous job but Hitler was willing to risk his life. He felt the sense of accomplishment. He won five medals for that job. His commanding officer once described him,
“As a dispatch-runner, he has shown cold-blooded courage and exemplary boldness. Under conditions of great peril, when all the communication lines were cut, the untiring and fearless activity of Hitler made it possible for important messages to go through.”
Hitler expressed his hatred toward socialists and Jews early in his life when he was in the army during WWI. According to his fellow soldiers, he liked to give passionate speeches, attacking on Jews and Marxists who he claimed were undermining the war effort.
In 1918, Hitler was blinded in a British mustard gas attack. Later on, Germany surrendered when Hitler was in the hospital. As a result, Hitler went into a state of deep depression and he had periods when he could not stop crying. He spent most of his time turned towards the hospital wall refusing to talk to anyone.
From the information above, it is obvious that Hitler was a passionate German nationalism. His loyalty and love for Germany made his emotion uncontrollable when he was in the hospital in 1918. And his early hatred toward Jewish people and his sense of German superiority would finally lead to horrible atrocities and genocide during WWII. With an idea of what Hitler experienced as a child, it is a lot easier to understand his later actions. So, we will go on to explore Hitler’s rise to power in the next section (*^__^*)
Alois was extremely concerned for his son’s well-being in his life. Adolf Hitler was Alois’ second son, however, Alois’ first son had been a complete failure. To Alois’ pleasure, Hitler did extremely well at primary school. He was very popular with other students and was much admired for his leadership qualities. He was very religious in his early years and had considered to become a monk.
Unfortunately, Hitler did not do as well in secondary school. There were several possible reasons for that. One was that his little brother died in 1900, thus changing Hitler from an outgoing boy to a sullen teenage. Another reason was that the secondary school that he went to was a lot larger and tougher. Hitler did not excel at first; however, he did not persist. He simply gave up and stopped trying. His father was furious as he had high expectations for Hitler. He got even angrier when Hitler did not join the Austrian civil service when he left school. Hitler did not have a nice relationship with his father since he frequently beat Hitler. In his secondary school, Hitler faced many problems. He lost his popularity with his fellow students. They were no longer willing to accept him as one of their leaders. Hitler soon found his obsession with German nationalism, as a way to rebel against his father, who proudly served the Austrian government. Later on, Hitler dropped out of his secondary school without a certificate. He went to Vienna in hope of becoming an artist. During this time, his father died and Hitler became even more bitter and rebellious.
In Vienna, the Vienna Academy of Art and the Vienna School of Architecture rejected Hitler’s application because he did not have a school leaving certificate. Hitler was severely humiliated and did not tell his mother about that. Hitler pretended to be a student while wondering around Vienna.
In 1909, Hitler was expected to register for Austrian military service, however, he was unwilling to serve Austria which he despised. Interestingly, the seemingly powerful Hitler was once rejected by the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914 for being “Unfit for combatant and auxiliary duty - too weak. Unable to bear arms.”
Unwilling to fight for Austrian army, Hitler volunteered for the German Army. He enjoyed his time in the army because he was part of a group that was fighting for a common goal. He had that sense of belonging which he had not had since primary school. He impressed his commanders by volunteering for dangerous missions. He was given the job dispatch runner. It was a very dangerous job but Hitler was willing to risk his life. He felt the sense of accomplishment. He won five medals for that job. His commanding officer once described him,
“As a dispatch-runner, he has shown cold-blooded courage and exemplary boldness. Under conditions of great peril, when all the communication lines were cut, the untiring and fearless activity of Hitler made it possible for important messages to go through.”
Hitler expressed his hatred toward socialists and Jews early in his life when he was in the army during WWI. According to his fellow soldiers, he liked to give passionate speeches, attacking on Jews and Marxists who he claimed were undermining the war effort.
In 1918, Hitler was blinded in a British mustard gas attack. Later on, Germany surrendered when Hitler was in the hospital. As a result, Hitler went into a state of deep depression and he had periods when he could not stop crying. He spent most of his time turned towards the hospital wall refusing to talk to anyone.
From the information above, it is obvious that Hitler was a passionate German nationalism. His loyalty and love for Germany made his emotion uncontrollable when he was in the hospital in 1918. And his early hatred toward Jewish people and his sense of German superiority would finally lead to horrible atrocities and genocide during WWII. With an idea of what Hitler experienced as a child, it is a lot easier to understand his later actions. So, we will go on to explore Hitler’s rise to power in the next section (*^__^*)
