Hitler spent the next few years in Vienna living on orphan’s pension and some of his father’s legacy. By 1909 he was virtually penniless and was living in homeless shelters and sleeping in bars. Ironically at this time, Hitler’s best friends and people he admired were Jewish from art dealers to operatic performers. Hitler’s Anti-Semitism grew in Vienna as in the media the Jews were used as scapegoats for the city’s problems.
When World War 1(WW1) started off, Hitler’s hatred for foreigners were inflamed and he submitted a petition to join the Bavarian army. Hitler’s regiment trained for nearly two months before they were taken to their first taste of combat in Ypres against the British and the Belgians. During the war Hitler was injured and narrowly escaped death in battle several times and he was awarded two iron crosses for his bravery during WW1. Hitler rose to the rank of corporal but his commanding officers saw no potential for him becoming a leader. In 1916 he was wounded by an enemy shell and was evacuated to a Berlin hospital. After serving four years in the trench he was temporarily blinded in a gas attack in 1918 and took no further part in the war. While Hitler was recovering, communist insurrections shook Germany and many of these were lead by Jews which again furthered his hatred for them. On November 9th 1918 the Kaiser abdicated and the socialists gained control through the election but now anarchy ruled the cities.
During these times of anarchy the free corps formed, which were army veterans who banded together, to fight the communists as most army soldiers were right wing and hated communists.
Germany had lost the war and their monarchy and so a republic was proclaimed.
On June 28 1919 the treaty of Versailles was signed by the German government, many of the people who signed the treaty were Jews which again increased Hitler’s hatred for them. The terms of the treaty were harsh and humiliating and this undermined the government and gave a rallying point for Hitler who believed that Germany was destined for ultimate greatness.
After the war, Hitler was recruited by a military intelligence unit and was sent keep tabs on the German workers party. It was unorganised and had only a few members but it had right wing doctrine, which was like Hitless. He saw this as an opportunity to reach his political ends. His built-up hatred of the Jews was the platform of this party. Which Hitler built up from a small discussion group into an actual political party. The major turning point in his oratorical career was at a meeting held on October 16 1919 when Hitler made the speech of his life. He captivated his audience with an impromptu speech, then through word of mouth, his reputation grew and donations started pouring in and hundreds of people flocked to his meetings to see this great leader.
Hitler with help of other party members drafted his 25-point programme. Among these points was the persecution of the Jews and treaty of Versailles being revoked.
Hitler also changed the name of the party to the National Socialist German Workers Party. He also adopted a new red flag with the swastika. Hitler also bought a failing newspaper for the paper.
In 1923, French and Belgian troops walked into Germany to settle the reparations dispute. Hitler used this to stage protest rallies to drum up more support.
Thousands of new members were joining the Nazi Party, these were mainly people who were victims of hyper-inflation.
November 8 1923, Hitler has said that he is willing to march on Berlin to rid Germany’s government of the communists and the Jews. So he marched from the beer hall with 2000-armed brown shirts, the putsch was huge failure and Hitler was imprisoned but his sentence was very lenient. While in prison he wrote his book ‘Mein Kampf’. Hitler dictated this book to his secretary and it is seen as just Hitler rambling like one of his speeches, which tells of his life and his beliefs.
After Hitler came out of prison he decided to win power constitutionally and not by force. He would use demagogic oratory skills, Hitler spoke to mass audiences calling for the end of the socialist government and telling people of his empire, which would last 1000 years.
The nazi party vote went up dramatically after the Wall Street crash in 1929. It went up to 18% in 1930 and in 1932 the nazi party gained 30% of the vote. This forced a political runoff and a deal was made with Hitler to make him chancellor in exchange for his political support. He was appointed as chancellor in 1933.
During this time Hitler had other personal problems. Hitler rented out a cottage in the summer of 1928 it was his first real home. Staying with him was his niece Geli who he fell in love with and she was fascinated by an older man like Hitler who was now becoming famous. Hitler became very possessive of Geli and she couldn’t do anything without his permission. By 1931 Geli had had enough of Hitler’s possessiveness and shot herself in the heart. Hitler was devastated and was never the same person again.
