(April 20, 1889 - April 30, 1945)

Adolf Hitler grew up in a small town in Austria near the German border.  Not wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the civil service, Hitler focused on becoming an artist.  He dropped out of secondary school and focused on his art, even though he was rejected by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.  After the death of his mother, Hitler moved to Vienna in 1908 and began selling his artwork and also started to gain an interest in politics.  When the First World War broke out, he petitioned Bavarian King Louis III to join the military after being previously denied for being physically unfit.  With serving granted, Hitler fought in the First World War and was injured twice (once in the leg and temporarily blinded by gas), but was awarded medals for bravery in action.  

Following Germany’s defeat in the First World War, Hitler found himself in the position to begin to take leadership positions and gain power and popularity as Germany was struggling financially and emotionally after the loss.  In 1933, Hitler gained control of the Nazi party and began speading and executing his anti-semic rhetoric which he outlined in his book, Mein Kampf (My Stuggle).  Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September of 1939 led to the start of the Second World War. While Germany was strong and was making advances at the beginning of the war, as it progressed the German Army was spread thin on two fronts, they were forced to surrender in May of 1945, just days after Hitler committed suicide.