Adolf Hitler, leader of the German National Socialist Workers" Party (Nazi) from 1933 - 1945, was responsible for more evil and suffering than any other man in modern history. Among these crimes was his attempt to commit genocide upon the Jewish people of Germany. Hitler had an intense hatred for Jews, whom he blamed for Germany's defeat in WWI and for the problems that plagued Germany after the war.
Although some would say he was a brilliant military leader, he actually about as sharp as a marble. He wasn't a very good student in school and dropped out when he was only 16. He went to Linz, Austria to live with his mom when his dad died and wanted to become an artist. So, he tried to enter the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts; but was rejected, not once, but twice. This kind of ticked him off, so he thought, "Hey, I can't be an artist, I"ll just take over Europe." That didn't happen right away though. From 1909 - 1913, he was homeless, but little is known about this time. Later in 1913, he moved to Munich, Germany as to evade military service in the Hapsburg Empire. But when WWI broke out, he enlisted in a Bavarian regiment. He served on the western front, winning the Iron Cross. Hitler had a dream to unite the German-speaking Austrians and Germany. The defeat of Germany in 1918 was a shock to him. That is when he decided to devote his life to restoring Germany's greatness.
Hitler formed his Nazi party in 1920 and quickly made a reputation. In 1923, he tried to seize power in Munich, and failed. He was disowned by the Army and brought to trial. He used the trial to get himself wide publicity. And he used the 9 months he had to serve in jail to write the first part of his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Between 1925 and 1929, no one really took Hitler seriously as a politician. He, however, got his chance in 1929 when the depression came. No country was hit worse than Germany. People became desperate and were ready to listen to anyone, even an extremist like Hitler.
