Adolf Hitler: The Man Behind The Holocaust

The story of the infamous leader of the Nazi party

Lucas Potrykus
Lampshade of ILLUMINATION
7 min readMay 16, 2023

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Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Me and AI ‘collaborated’ on this piece to give the most accurate story possible! Enjoy!

Early Life And Rise To Power

Adolf Hitler, one of the most infamous leaders in history, was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria. His early life was marked by hardships and struggles, but he was able to use his charismatic personality and political savvy to rise to power as the leader of the Nazi Party and ultimately become the Chancellor of Germany in 1933. This essay will explore Hitler’s early life and rise to power, including his upbringing and political affiliations.

Hitler was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl. His childhood was marked by frequent moves and financial struggles, and his relationship with his father was strained. Hitler showed an early interest in art, but his dreams of becoming a painter were not supported by his father. After his father’s death, Hitler moved to Vienna, Austria, where he struggled to make a living and became increasingly interested in politics.

In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany, and joined the German Army during World War I. He was wounded twice and was awarded several honors for bravery.

Hitler’s reaction to hearing that Germany had lost World War I was one of intense bitterness and anger. For Hitler, the loss was a crushing blow to his worldview and his sense of German pride. He had been serving as a soldier in the war and had been decorated for his bravery, so the defeat was a personal affront to him. Hitler believed that Germany had been betrayed by the politicians and generals who had surrendered, and he saw the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh reparations and limitations on Germany, as a further humiliation. In his view, the German people had been stabbed in the back and were being unfairly punished for a war they had not started.

After the war, Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party, which was later renamed the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) or Nazi Party. He quickly rose through the ranks of the party and became its leader in 1921.

Hitler’s rise to power was aided by his charisma and ability to connect with the people of Germany. He capitalized on the economic and social turmoil of the time, using his speaking skills and persuasive rhetoric to gain support from various groups. He also organized the infamous Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Bavaria. Although the putsch was unsuccessful, it gave Hitler a national platform and he used it to further his political agenda.

Over the next decade, Hitler and the Nazi Party continued to gain popularity, winning seats in the German Parliament and ultimately securing Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Once in power, Hitler began implementing his policies, which included the persecution and extermination of various groups, including Jews, homosexuals, and political dissidents.

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Propaganda And Speeches

f Hitler’s use of propaganda and speeches was a key element of his rise to power and the success of the Nazi Party. Hitler was a master at using words and images to manipulate people’s emotions and beliefs, and he used these techniques to spread his ideology and gain support from the German people. This article will explore Hitler’s use of propaganda and speeches, including the techniques he used and the impact they had on German society.

Hitler understood the power of propaganda and recognized its importance in shaping public opinion. He employed a team of talented propagandists, led by Joseph Goebbels, who were responsible for creating and disseminating the Nazi Party’s message through a variety of mediums, including newspapers, posters, radio broadcasts, and films. These messages were carefully crafted to appeal to the emotions and fears of the German people, using slogans and images that were simple and easily understood.

One of the key techniques used in Nazi propaganda was the repetition of messages. Hitler and his propagandists would repeat slogans and messages over and over again, until they became ingrained in the minds of the German people. For example, the slogan “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer” (One people, one empire, one leader) was repeated in Nazi propaganda for years, reinforcing the idea of unity and the need for a strong leader.

Another technique used in Nazi propaganda was the creation of scapegoats. Hitler and his propagandists identified groups of people, such as Jews, homosexuals, and political dissidents, as the cause of Germany’s problems, and used them as scapegoats to deflect blame from the Nazi Party and appeal to the fears and prejudices of the German people. This strategy was particularly effective in a time of economic and social turmoil, when people were looking for someone to blame for their problems.

Hitler’s speeches were another powerful tool in his propaganda arsenal. He was a gifted orator, able to captivate audiences with his passionate speeches and fiery rhetoric. Hitler’s speeches were carefully crafted to appeal to the emotions and fears of his listeners, using simple language and powerful imagery to create a sense of unity and purpose. He would often start his speeches slowly and build to a crescendo, using repetition and dramatic pauses to create a sense of drama and importance.

One of Hitler’s most famous speeches was his address to the Reichstag on January 30, 1939, in which he declared his intention to exterminate the Jews. In this speech, Hitler used a combination of fear, anger, and hatred to appeal to the emotions of his listeners, portraying the Jews as a threat to the German people and calling for their eradication. The impact of this speech was profound, setting the stage for the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

WWII And The Holocaust

We’ve arrived, the second great war.

World War II was one of the deadliest and most destructive conflicts in human history. It lasted from 1939 to 1945, and involved almost every major power in the world, including Germany, Japan, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain. At the heart of the war was the aggressive expansionism of Nazi Germany.

The Holocaust was the systematic extermination of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II. It was carried out through a combination of brutal forced labor, starvation, and gas chambers in concentration camps throughout Europe. The scale of the Holocaust was unprecedented in human history, and its impact is still felt today.

As I’ve mentioned before, the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany began in 1933, with the passage of the Nuremberg Laws, which stripped Jews of their citizenship and prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with non-Jews. This was followed by a campaign of violence and terror, including the Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938, which saw the destruction of thousands of Jewish-owned businesses and the arrest of thousands of Jews.

As World War II began, the persecution of Jews escalated into the genocide of the Holocaust. Jews were rounded up and transported to concentration camps, where they were subjected to inhumane conditions, forced labor, and mass murder. The largest and most notorious of these camps was Auschwitz, where over a million Jews were killed.

The Holocaust was not limited to Jews, however. The Nazi regime also targeted other groups they deemed inferior, including homosexuals, people with disabilities, and Roma and Sinti people. These groups were subjected to forced sterilization, medical experimentation, and mass murder in concentration camps.

The atrocities committed by the Nazi regime during World War II had a profound impact on the world. They led to the deaths of millions of people, the displacement of millions more, and the destruction of entire cities. The war also led to the development of new technologies and weapons, including the atomic bomb, which forever changed the nature of warfare.

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The Death Of Adolf Hitler

The death of Adolf Hitler remains one of the most mysterious and controversial events of the 20th century. Although the official story is that Hitler died by suicide in his bunker on April 30, 1945, there are many theories and conspiracy theories about what really happened to him.

One of the most popular theories is that Hitler escaped Germany and fled to South America, possibly to Argentina or Brazil. There are many stories of sightings of Hitler in these countries, and some even claim to have met him. Supporters of this theory point to the fact that many high-ranking Nazis did flee to South America after the war, and that there is evidence of secret escape routes and safe houses.

Another theory is that Hitler faked his own death and escaped Germany disguised as a woman. This theory is based on a photograph of a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Hitler, and on claims that Hitler was known to enjoy cross-dressing. Supporters of this theory argue that the Soviet authorities who claimed to have found Hitler’s body in the bunker never produced any hard evidence, and that there are inconsistencies in the accounts of witnesses who claimed to have seen his body.

A third theory is that Hitler was assassinated by his own followers, possibly as part of a coup to take control of the Nazi Party. This theory is supported by the fact that there were many factions within the Nazi Party who disagreed with Hitler’s leadership and policies. Some argue that Hitler’s declining health and mental state made him increasingly vulnerable to such an attack.

Despite the many theories about Hitler’s death, the official story remains that he died by suicide in his bunker. This version of events is supported by eyewitness accounts, including those of Hitler’s personal assistant and the commander of his bunker. The evidence includes the discovery of Hitler’s body, which was identified through dental records and corroborated by eyewitness testimony.

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