Hitler and His Downfall Essay Example For Students

Hitler and His Downfall Essay To many World War II has been the most devastating war in human history. It had been global military conflict that caused the loss of millions of lives as well as material destruction. The war began in Europe in September of 1939. It ended on May 8, 1945. This day was marked by the British government as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The outcome of this war left a new world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union. Adolf Hitler was born in Braunuam Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889 and died (committed suicide) on April 30, 1945. He was the son of a minor customs official and a peasant girl. He had a love for reading although he never completed high school and was rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna due to his lack of talent. Through reading he developed his anti-democratic and anti-Jewish beliefs, the admiration for the outstanding individual and contempt for the masses. By volunteering for service in the Baverian Army during World War I, he proved himself as a dedicated and courageous soldier. Since his sponsors felt that he lacked in leadership quantities, he was never promoted beyond private first class. In September 1919, Hitler joined the Nationalist German Workers Party later changed its ame to the National Social German Workers (Nazi) Party. To become the leader of Germany, he took advantage of the Great Depression of 1929 and explained it as a Jewish Communist plot. Through promises of a strong Germany, more jobs and national glory, he gained popularity and was appointed chancellor in January 1933. Once in power, he established himself as a dictator. After World War I, Germany was dissatisfied with the outcome of the war. There were large reparations to pay, their military power had been restrained, they suffered and resented the territorial losses some of hich, were withheld as collateral, and Germany had been held accountable for the entire war. Germany felt that they had been treated unjustly. Their sense of German nationalism began to grow. Thus, Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations in October, 1933. Hitlers first step to dominate this area failed in 1934. the first Anschluss, which is the unification of Germany and Austria, was stopped by Italys Mussolini. At this time, Mussolini feared Hitler and Germany but through the Spanish Civil War, they became allies and signed the Anti-Cominterm Pact along with Japan. This pact was to resist the expansion f communism. With Mussolini now on his side, Anschuluss was a success in March of 1939. This move strengthened Germanys economy and put them in a better position strategically, with Italy. Czechoslovakias Sudatan lands was Hitlers next step. To gain this territory Hitler demanded self-determination for the Germans in this region. Therefore the Munich Conference took place in September 1938 and the results of this was the Sudatan Germans were seceded to Germany. Present at this conference were representatives from Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy. Czechoslovakia was not represented. Poland then aid claims on Teschen and Hungary on Carpatho-Ruthenia. Hitler gained these areas by giving the west the impression that the only reason he wanted them was to unify the Germans and Germany. The west, Great Britain and France, allowed this because of a policy they had toward Hitler and Germany called appeasement. The two main reasons they followed this policy was the fear of Bolshevism and an attempt to prevent another war. The next step for Hitler was the complete occupation of Czech. This was accomplished on March 1939, just six months after the Munich conference. Slovakia was left alone by Hitlers men but was an independent state. Its Independence was just a front for Hitler to create a puppet state. Hitlers victory in Czechoslovakia greatly enhanced their military position, but above all helped arm his men with the aid of the Skoda Works which was now under the control of Germany. The Skoda Works was the largest arms manufacturer in Europe. Czechoslovakia had no alternative but to accept Hitlers rule. This was the end of the appeasement from Great Britain and France. they then made a guarantee to both Poland and Bulgaria that in the event of a German attack, they would come to their aid. Hitlers next effort was directed towards Poland with the excuse of egaining Danzig and the corridor to unit Germany. On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded and attacked an incapable Polish army. While Germany invaded with tanks and planes, Poland countered with men on horseback. Personal Story - The Dance Party EssayPoor weather and breakdowns in mobile units led to numerous delays. An example of this is that after the battle for Kiev, Panzer Group 2 had only 30% of its tanks remaining, altough Panzer Group 3 and Group 4 were slightly better off. Supply lines were becoming longer and longer, and the capacity of merchanized transport had greatly eclined. The railways were still operating, but they could not carry enough equipment to keep the fronts supplied. By the middle of October German troops were in excellent position surrounding Moscow. The problem of supplies still remained. German forces depended on a narrow, long and extremely vulnerable supply lines. The railway lines were operating but they were very inefficient. All of these factors along with one more major event led to the end of any ligitament German offensive in World War II. This major event was winter. As one German general put it, The icy cold, the lack of shelter, the hortage of clothing, the heavy losses of men and equipment, the wretched state of our fuel supplied, all this makes the duties of a commander a misery and the longer it goes on the more I am crushed by the responsibility which I have to bear. Hitler admitted this when he canceled his attack on Moscow. The severe winter weather which has come surprisingly early on the east and the consequent difficulties in bringing up supplies, compel us to abandon immediately all major offensive operations and go over to the defensive. At this point Hitler moved 70% of his tanks and assault guns to the Russian front leaving Southern Europe ul nerable. In the Spring on 1943 American and Russian industrial production were at their peak an Germany could no longer regain its superiority in armaments. The allies began attacking German armaments and destroying German cities. Hitlers last major offensive came in July, but he confessed to his commander that the entire offensive was all a gamble. This offensive was a complete failure, due to Russia being completely prepared with extensive defenses. Along with this failure in Russia and the allies gaining ground in southern Europe, Hitler also had to contend with resistance from within Poland. The Home Army, consisting of 300,000 men caused havoc for Hitlers men stationed in Poland. The fact that Hitler had to station more men in Poland to contend with the Home Army took some strength away from his Russian front, which could have saved him from defeat. Russia forced Hitler back into a defensive withdrawal. He also lost command of the air as allied planes were seen more and more along with Germanys lack of fuel to train new pilots. Taking control over the air campaign was a major step for the allies. This proved to be an important part of Hitlers strategy which was now limited due to his lack of control. Hitler quoted his idol Frederick the Great in saying: I started this war with the most wonderful army in Europe; today Ive got a muck heap. I have no leaders any more, my generals are incompetent, the troops are all wretched. This quote alone states the condition Hitler and his forces were in near the end of the war. Even at the end, Hitlers military plans were brilliant and may have been successful had he possessed sufficient resources and forces to ensure it a reasonable chance of succeeding. Due to his lack of forces and supplies, the Allies captured Berlin in April 1945. Hitler felt that both Germany and is Generals had failed him and that only the weak will survive the war because all the good men are already dead. Before Germany surrendered, Hitler committed suicide. Many historians have compared Hitler to Napolean. Both their failures have been the underestimation of the Russian winter. Another of Hitlers faults is the extreme overconfidence he possessed. Had he excepted failure in Russia and retreated to regroup, his offensive may not have ended in complete failure. He believed in complete domination or destruction. This belief led to his downfall and to his decition to commit suicide.