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Who Was Hitler | You think you know Adolf Hitler?

Best Documentary・95 minutes read

Adolf Hitler, from humble beginnings and with a mysterious personal life, rose to power as the Führer of the German Reich, leading to devastating consequences in the 20th century. Hitler's background, lack of formal education, and disdain for religion, particularly Christianity, shaped his ideologies and actions, culminating in World War II and the tragic events that followed.

Insights

Adolf Hitler's rise to power from a destitute background showcases the unpredictability and complexity of history, emphasizing the impact of individual choices on shaping global events.
Hitler's early struggles and transient lifestyle, coupled with his rejection of traditional employment, highlight the unconventional path that led him to become a significant historical figure, underscoring the multifaceted nature of human ambition.
The secrecy surrounding Hitler's personal life and origins adds an aura of mystery to his character, illustrating the enigmatic nature of influential figures and the power of perception in shaping historical narratives.
Hitler's experiences during World War I profoundly influenced his ideologies and sense of purpose, emphasizing the role of historical events in shaping individual beliefs and actions, leading to far-reaching consequences.
The meticulous detailing of Hitler's military service, from his enlistment to his injuries and promotions, offers insights into his character, motivations, and interactions with his comrades, shedding light on the formative experiences that shaped his future decisions.
The progression of Hitler's political career, from joining the German Workers' Party to eventually becoming Chancellor, underscores the incremental nature of power accumulation and the transformative impact of political alliances and societal conditions on shaping leadership trajectories.

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Recent questions

Who was Adolf Hitler?
A man who rose to power in Germany.

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Summary

00:00

"Hitler: From Homeless to Infamous Leader"

Adolf Hitler lacked formal education and vocational training, often residing in homeless shelters or on the streets, refusing regular employment.
Despite his background, Hitler rose to power as the Führer of the German Reich, becoming one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, leading to widespread devastation and loss of life.
Hitler's origins and personal life were shrouded in secrecy during his lifetime, with few knowing his true identity.
Born in Braunau am Inn on April 20th, 1889, Hitler was the third child of his parents, with only him and his sister surviving childhood.
Hitler's early years were spent in various locations in Austria, including Braunau, Passau, and Linz, where he struggled academically and faced personal challenges.
After failing to gain admission to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Hitler lived a transient life in the city, relying on a small inheritance and selling postcards to survive.
In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich to avoid military service, where he lived on the fringes of society, supported by his inheritance.
Hitler's life in Munich was marked by a sense of detachment and outsider status, despite finding the city to be the center of his existence.
Hitler's early experiences with war and the outbreak of World War I in 1914 fueled his enthusiasm and sense of purpose, shaping his future ideologies.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the subsequent events leading to World War I deeply impacted Hitler and his generation, influencing their perspectives on war and society.

20:57

Hitler's Military Journey and Political Rise

On August 2nd, 1914, a patriotic rally takes place in Odeonsplatz after Germany declares war on Russia, where a photo is taken by Heinrich Hoffmann, later revealing a face believed to be Hitler's.
Adolf Hitler enlists in the Army on August 5th, 1914, joining the First Bavarian Infantry Regiment, then transferred to the Second Infantry Regiment and finally to the Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, number 16 on August 16th.
Hitler, for the first time, wears a uniform and embarks on a journey with his regiment from Munich station on October 21st, 1914, heading west.
Following his first combat mission, Hitler is promoted to lance corporal but rejects further promotions to maintain the camaraderie and security of his regimental family.
Hitler serves as a dispatch runner from November 9th, 1914, and is respected but remains an outsider among his comrades.
Wounded by British artillery on October 5th, 1916, Hitler is taken to a hospital in Beelitz and returns to his duties by March 1st, 1917, participating in combat activities.
On August 4th, 1918, Hitler is awarded the Iron Cross First Class, nominated by a Jewish officer, Lieutenant Hugo Gutmann.
Hitler's war service ends on October 13th, 1918, due to mustard gas exposure, leading to his treatment in Pasewalk, where he learns of the revolution and ceasefire.
Hitler returns to Munich on November 21st, 1918, avoiding demobilization and distancing himself from revolutionary forces while growing more radical under the influence of Army officers.
Hitler joins the German Workers' Party in September 1919, becoming a prominent speaker and eventually renaming the party to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) with a 25-point Party Program.

41:34

Hitler's Path to Power: A Summary

Hitler views Jews as contaminants of the Aryan race, aiming to pollute and steal women from their people.
Hitler plans for territorial expansion towards the East, focusing on Russia and bordering states.
Hitler re-establishes the National Socialist German Workers' Party in February 1925.
Erich Ludendorff receives only 1.1% of the votes in the German presidential elections of March 1925.
Hitler shifts support to Paul von Hindenburg in the second round of voting, becoming the sole leader of the National Camp.
Berlin in the 1920s was a hub of culture and innovation, boasting theaters, film studios, and vibrant nightlife.
Despite political setbacks, the NSDAP stages impressive rallies, particularly in Nuremberg.
Hitler's rise to power is marked by a growing personality cult and a focus on youth activism.
Hitler's failed attempt at the German presidency in 1932 leads to Hindenburg's re-election.
The NSDAP's success in the November 1932 elections sets the stage for Hitler's eventual rise to power in 1933.

01:05:21

Hitler's Rise to Power: Key Events

January 30th, 1933: Hitler becomes German chancellor, Elsa from school shouts "Heil Hitler."
Fragment of film shows torchlight procession through Brandenburg Gate, reminiscent of January 30th, 1933.
Hitler despises German National People's Party ministers, aims to rid himself of them.
Ernst Niekisch delivers speech in Berlin Sportpalast, February 10th, 1933, expressing faith in people and new German nation.
March 5th, 1933: Reichstag elections show NSDAP gains 43.9%, forming coalition with German National People's Party.
March 12th, 1933: Communist members not invited to Reichstag opening session.
March 23rd, 1933: Enabling Act passed by 441 votes to 94, granting Hitler extraordinary powers.
July 1st, 1934: Mutiny of SA leaders in Munich, Hitler helps arrest and have them shot.
July 2nd, 1934: Official end of purge, 150-200 people shot, including Röhm.
October 17th, 1934: Law enacted making Hitler leader of German people for life, merging presidential authority to him.

01:27:02

Hitler's Path to Power and Legacy

Adolf Hitler delivers a speech in Munich on March 14th, 1936, expressing his confidence in following his destined path.
Dr. Goebbels proclaims compulsory military service in Germany in response to France's two-year military service adoption on March 16th, 1935.
Anti-Jewish laws are introduced in Germany, prohibiting marriages between Aryans and non-Aryans, as announced on September 15th, 1935.
The Genetic Health Act, including sterilization laws, is passed in Berlin on December 10th, 1935, aiming to create a race of supermen.
The Nuremberg rallies become a ritualized event, as Hitler desires, providing his successor with his charisma, as discussed in 1938.
Austria is annexed into Germany in March 1938, following Chancellor Schuschnigg's capitulation to Hitler's wishes.
Hitler's personal life reveals his ascetic lifestyle, including vegetarianism, abstinence from alcohol and smoking, and his Spartan habits for psychological reasons.
Hitler's last will and testament, dated May 2nd, 1938, details his burial wishes, financial bequests to Eva Braun, family members, and trusted individuals.
Hitler's rise to power from humble beginnings, his mysterious persona, and the blind devotion of the German nation to him are highlighted.
The Munich negotiations in September 1938 result in the Czechs withdrawing from the Sudetenland, showcasing Hitler's determination and success in achieving his goals.

01:49:54

"Rise of Hitler and the Second World War"

In Munich, the failed putsch of 1923 was celebrated with great pomp, with the SS marching through the city.
On November 7th, 1938, a 17-year-old Jewish boy named Grynszpan shoots a German diplomat in the German embassy in Paris.
Following the diplomat's death, a pogrom breaks out across Germany, leading to the destruction of synagogues, Jewish shops, and the arrest of Jewish men.
A boycott against Jews is issued throughout the Reich, affecting various cultural and recreational venues.
Around 120,000 German and Austrian Jews manage to leave their homeland before the start of World War II.
Hitler announces his intention to take action against the Czechs in mid-March 1939, leading to a German-Russian non-aggression pact.
Hitler's plans for war intensify, with the British and French seen as inferior, and the invasion of Poland becomes imminent.
The Second World War begins on September 1st, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland.
Hitler addresses the Reichstag, declaring the return of fire against Poland, and the war diary reports significant casualties on both sides.
Warsaw falls on September 28th, 1939, with the Russians moving in and scattered Polish divisions putting up a heroic struggle.

02:12:03

Hitler's Rise and Military Triumphs in WWII

Social strata could be germanized based on racial purity and hereditary disposition.
A special cultural heritage group focused on language.
Gerhard Engel, Army Adjutant to Hitler, left Berlin secretly for Hamburg and Aachen.
Wilhelm Keitel recorded Hitler taking over supreme command of the German army in the West.
Albert Speer noted the beginning of the war and Churchill replacing Chamberlain.
Hitler stopped the army to teach the English a lesson during the Western campaign.
Paris was occupied by German troops without resistance.
Hitler was elated by France's peace offer on June 17th.
Hitler's self-deification grew after military successes.
The German army prepared for Operation Barbarossa against Soviet Russia.

02:33:09

Hitler's Rise and Deception: A Summary

Nikita Khrushchev asked the individual how they perceived the order, to which they responded affirmatively, expressing their intent to defend Stalingrad or perish in the attempt.
The individual then proceeded to drive to Stalingrad, where they encountered Vasily Chuikov, a lieutenant general, who discussed the Stalingrad Protocols, marking a significant moment in the war.
The creation of a vast sphere of influence overnight, encompassing regions like North Cape, Pyrenees, Sahara, and Volga, was described, including Europe and its nations.
Despite the immense empire formed, there was a somber realization of the challenges ahead due to the evident disparity in forces.
Adolf Hitler's demand for German soldiers to sacrifice their lives was noted, emphasizing the intense nature of the battle.
The soldiers' unwavering belief in Hitler's promise to rescue them from encirclement was highlighted as a tragic deception.
The text delved into Hitler's rise to power, detailing his background, lack of formal education, and the mystery surrounding his personal life.
Hitler's disdain for religion, particularly Christianity, was explored through various accounts from his contemporaries.
The initiation of the euthanasia program under Hitler's orders, targeting patients with incurable diseases, was discussed, along with the subsequent public outcry and resistance.
The summary concluded with Hitler's denial of involvement in the Jewish extermination, despite evidence suggesting his direct responsibility, and his dismissive response to reports of atrocities in concentration camps.

02:53:09

Hitler's War: Atrocities, Failures, and Decisions

Franz von Sonnleithner, a Legation Councilor in the Foreign Ministry, was wounded near Grodno on the third day of the war, where many wounded were left at the mercy of German soldiers.
Estimates suggest that 2.5 to 3.3 million out of roughly 5.3 to 5.7 million Red Army soldiers in German captivity died, with only grave diggers receiving food in the camp set up in a dense pine forest.
Army command condoned the starvation of Soviet prisoners of war, with the quartermaster-general stating that non-working prisoners had to starve, while working ones could be fed Army provisions.
Hitler knew about the mass killings of Soviet prisoners of war, as observed by his valet, Heinz Linge, who noted Hitler's physical deterioration over time.
Soldiers, not followers of Hitler, viewed war as an indispensable phenomenon of life, as noted by journalist Vilna Sturm in her diary entry.
Hamburg was severely bombed in July 1943, leading to massive destruction and loss of life, as described in a letter from Magdalena Zimmermann to her son.
Hitler never visited a bombed city during the war, as noted by his architect, Albert Speer, who also detailed Hitler's reliance on his personal physician, Dr. Theo Morell.
Hitler expressed relief upon learning of the failed assassination attempt on him by Claus von Stauffenberg, as recounted by his valet, Heinz Linge.
Hitler's decision to start an attack from the Eifel region towards Antwerp was influenced by the weakness of enemy forces in the area, as revealed to a limited circle of listeners.
The Ardennes offensive in December 1944, aimed at stopping the Allies from reaching the River Rhine, ultimately failed due to ten days of radiant sunshine, allowing the Allies to deploy overwhelming air superiority.

03:13:27

"Hitler's Last Days: Witnesses and Reflections"

Walter Rowland, an industrialist, and commissioner for tank production in the Ministry of Armaments and War Production, was involved in the war efforts.
Rudolf Jordan, a Provincial NSDAP Leader and Defense Commissioner, expressed concerns about the fate of Germany during Christmas in 1944.
Adolf Hitler, realizing the war was lost, expressed his desire to end his life to his adjutant, Nicolaus von Below, in December 1944.
Stefan Heym, a Corporal of the US Army and writer, witnessed Adolf Hitler's last radio address to the German people in January 1945.
Hermann Giesler, General Building Inspector for the redevelopment of the City of Linz, presented Adolf Hitler with a model of the city in December 1944.
Christa Schroeder mentioned the use of air-raid first aid kits and medicine chests in mid-March 1945 when Hitler transferred activities to the bunker.
Rochus Misch, a telephone operator in the Führer's bunker, recalled the events leading up to Hitler's capitulation on April 22nd, 1945.
Gertraud Traudl Junge, a witness in Hitler's bunker, described the emotional moment when Hitler decided to end his life with Eva Braun.
Charles de Gaulle reflected on Adolf Hitler's rise to power, his totalitarian regime, and the tragic consequences of his actions in his memoirs.

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