By nightfall the streets were filled with processions of torch bearing cheering Nazis" (John).
Adolf Hitler, who was the leader of the Nazis, was born in Austria just across the border from German Bavaria. Hitler would begin to read his fathers history books about Native Americans and how they were slaughtered along with reading about battles between the Germans and Russians. This would make him familiar to racism at an early age. Hitler did not get along with his father when he was young because his father wanted him to get into politics and he like drawing instead, but he still got into art and the reason he started to hate Jews is because he could not sell his artwork, but the Jews could. (Shirer 14). Hitler still did business with Jewish shop owners in selling his paintings, however, the roots of hate ran deep within him and they would grow even more by events soon to come, paving the way for one of the greatest tragedies in all of human history (Forman 29). Adolf became a drifter for several years, after both his parents passed away. Hitler volunteered for the German Army and in his first engagement against the British and Belgians near Pyres, 2,500 of the 3,000 men in Hitler's regiment were killed, wounded or missing. This war experience gave Hitler what he needed to one day be a successful military leader. .
In the election of 1932, Hitler could not beat out the eighty-five year old President Hindenburg. However, 230 Nazi candidates held seats, and Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany. It was the second highest position in the German government. With only a week left till the new election, Hitler needed an incident that might put him ahead in the polls. Two nights later, the old courthouse, the Reichstag, began burning. The Nazis immediately began blaming it on the Communists. This was just what the Nazis needed to put them ahead in the race (Shirer 264). .
Hitler still was not elected to the Presidency.
