It was an ordinary day. July 29 of this year and I was reading headlines from past newspapers as well as a few old magazines I hadn't thrown away as of yet. One headline took me to a story that told of an Austrian painter who wasn't the best, so he became the leader of a tiny nationalist group called the national Socialist German Worker's Party. Took him 20 years, but he eventually became the ruler of Germany. Under his direction, the nation had rearmed and conquered France, Holland, Norway, Czechoslovakia and Poland. It also occupied Hungary, Romania, the Baltic States and the Ukraine. London was pounded to rubble by his Air Force. Got an idea whom my story is about today? Guy by the name of Adolf Hitler who also declared war on the United States. Now, how did a guy who was less than a proficient painter, who had very little formal education and had very little money become one of the most feared people in the world? How could he have turned Europe upside down as he did, rebuild Germany and then destroy it all over again, and cause the death of millions in the process. And, why didn't anyone stop him? Adolph Hitler was a master with the common word. He could talk anyone into anything.
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| Adolph Hitler |
He was a great public speaker! Those who were his partners in the German Worker's Party, later renamed the National Socialist German Worker's Party or "Nazi" Party, realized that Hitler had a rare talent for stirring up audiences and spreading his endless anger and racism. It was in 1923 that Kenneth L. Roberts, journalist for the Saturday Evening Post, wrote about the career of A. Hitler. He wrote that Hitler could win over just about any group he spoke to as well as attracting all the tough nuts and hard-boiled eggs to his side of the table. He would call the existing government the meanest German names in or out of the dictionary and all his fans would slap each other on the back and claim to have found "the boy for us!" They immediately signed on with Hitler. Just so happened that the German population was looking for an effective leader after following the Kaiser through four years of a costly war and Hitler had found the public stage at just the right moment. Germany's economy had been destroyed and many workers were injured or killed during World War I. Germany also had to pay reparation to the allies. The once great army had been disarmed and the nation was defenseless. But, many German citizens believed they were meant to be the premier nation in Europe and Adolf Hitler convinced them he had the solutions for all their problems. He was well known for screaming his threats and boasts and began to add new jobs, create better living conditions and restore pride and power for Germany. He also attacked Germany's Jews, saying they were responsible for Germany's defeat in the war. Many had a hard time believing him. Many Jewish Germans didn't take him seriously. Hitler became a local celebrity and only after newspaper giant Alfred Hugenberg took his side did he begin to take control.
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| Alfred Hugenberg |
Hugenberg used his newspaper to spred the word that he wanted to eliminate the communists and social democrats as well as topple the Weimar government so that the Kaiser would rule Germany once again. Both he and Hitler had the same views and he began to sped Hitler's message through his newspapers. The financial support of German business owners helped support the Nazi party. But, Hugengerg thought he could control Hitler and step in and take control of the new Germany. But, Hitler was more ruthless and sharper than any competitor. With newspaper coverage Hitler was able to grow the Nazi Party and began to run members for seats in the German parliament. By 1933 Hitler was chancellor and assumed dictatorial power the following year. If you opposed his ideas, you were arrested. He began to rebuild the country's military in violation of the Versailles Treaty. He did make good on his promise of employment and higher living standards for Germans. But, the government forced women and Jews out of jobs that were then offered to "Aryan" men. Hitler's path to power left massive destruction and inhumanity. In 1939 France and Britain declared war on Germany. It took half a decade to finally defeat Germany. On April 30, 1945, HItler was found dead from suicide. Hilter was finally defeated. Now, my story does leave many events out, but I believe you get the idea of how Hitler tried to take over the world and how he failed. As you can see, it's been a century since a failed Austrian painter became a leader of a tiny nationalist group and tried to conquer the world. He did not succeed! And...no one in the future will ever do what Hitler once thought he could do! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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