At the age of nine, Hitler was caught by one of the priests smoking a cigarette but was forgiven.
The Hitler family, moved once again, now to the village of Leonding, which was close to Linz. Adolf Hitler changed schools but found this no problem to his work, as he was able to achieve good grades with little effort. At this time he found he had a talent for Art.
Adolf Hitlers schoolboy days were drawing to a close as soon he would have to go to classical or technical school. His father, Alois forced him to go to technical school despite his wishes to go to classical school and continue his skill at Art. At the technical school at Linz he did quite badly but after being held back a year he managed to get better grades.
Hitler enjoyed the music of the famous German composer, Wagner. Where Hitler grew up was very near to the German Border and people living in the area considered themselves German Austrians. This, coupled with his enjoyment of Wagner’s music led to him being fond of Germany and eventually German Nationalism.
After the death of his father in January 1903, Hitler was free from the arguments with his father and was able to decide how he would run his life.
At technical school, his attitude was becoming a problem to his work. Hitler had done badly in Maths and French, and began to behave badly, knowing he was likely to fail. He would play pranks on teachers and would not do what they told him to do. He only showed interest in History where he was learning about the heroic Germans – this adding to his keen interest in German Nationalism.
Hitler was told that he could possibly graduate from school but could not bring himself to take the final exam.
He was now free of school and spent a lot of time wandering the streets of Linz where he befriended August Kubizek who he would talk to about his beliefs and ideas.
Vienna
In 1906 Hitler took his first trip to Vienna. He was enthralled by the city’s magnificent architecture and culture. He attended the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts where he took the two day entrance exam, but failed, and resolved to take the exam a year later. He was now living in Vienna, living off his inheritance which he had withdrawn from the bank.
Hitler’s Mother was dying from breast cancer and Hitler returned to the family home to care and look after her as her condition worsened. In December 1907 she died. Hitler was Devastated. With his two parents now dead, Hitler returned to Vienna. Hitler roomed with his friend from Linz and continued the lifestyle he had had there. He did not attempt to get a job. Hitler, for the second time attempted to gain admission to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, but again he was turned away.
To get by, Hitler would draw pictures to sell and pawn his possessions. He ended up sleeping in the streets and on park benches, but in December 1909 he moved into a homeless shelter and then in February 1910 he moved into a poor man’s home.
In the poor man’s home Hitler used to make speeches to the residents and, if anyone contradicted him, he would fly into a rage.
Also at the poor mans home, Hitler would read all the newspapers available and also political pamphlets. He would also read about German history and mythology. After reading so many books, Hitler had become very interested in politics and after seeing a march in Vienna he appreciated how marches and rallies were organised and tactics used.
It was considered in Vienna’s middle class that anti – semitism was fashionable. The Mayor of Vienna, Karl Lueger was known as an anti – semite and was a member of the Christian Social Party. Hitler admired Lueger for his speeches and his use of propaganda. From reading many books and newspapers and from carefully studying the Jews, Hitler was starting to despise Semitism.
At the age of 24, Hitler was called up for service in the Austrian Army. Hitler was not keen on how the Army was made up of different cultures. He decided to leave for the country he admired and loved and in May 1913 he moved to Munich.
Munich and Hitler in World War 1
Hitler made a living in Munich as he did in Vienna by selling pictures of landmarks to local shops. The Austrian Authorities tracked him down in January 1914, but a well written letter back to them and an easily failed medical examination ensured he could stay in Germany.
On the 1st of August in 1914 war was announced. Hitler was quick to enlist in the German Army. In Mein Kampf, Hitler describes how ‘everything past receded to shallow nothingness.’
The war gave Hitler a sense of purpose as he was fighting for the country he loved. Hitler was after a time promoted to the rank of Corporal but despite the fact that he gained many medals in the war and had a good record he remained at the same rank. Hitler was seen by many as an odd character and was considered to lack leadership skills. This was one of the reasons why he was not promoted to Sergeant. One of the medals he received was the Iron Cross First Class. When on the front line, Hitler was wounded and had to go to hospital. Once out of hospital he went to Berlin for a few days sight-seeing. He was appalled by the lack of morale by Germans and blamed the Jews for this. After returning to the front, Hitler was injured by a gas attack and was sent back home. On the 10th of November the war ended in German defeat. Like many others, Hitler was in the mind that the Army could have fought on but were stopped by cowardly politicians. This has become known as the ‘Stab in the back’ – the politicians being known as ‘the November Criminals.’
Post War Experiences
Still in the Army, Hitler was now responsible for lecturing returning German prisoners of war on his views on the Jews and communism. This gave soldiers someone to blame for their defeat. Hitler was an ‘Educational Officer’ at this time and this job involved him informing his superior Officers of any communist supporting soldiers and also spying and gaining knowledge on the many political parties around.
In September 1919, Hitler was ordered to investigate the German Workers Party. Hitler attended a meeting, towards the end a man spoke on how he thought that the German state, Bavaria, should join with Austria. Hitler was so enraged about this idea he spoke up and gave a speech of his thoughts. The founder of the party, Anton Drexler was so impressed with Hitler’s passionate speech he gave him a pamphlet outlining his own views and a few days later sent Hitler a postcard welcoming him to the party. Hitler saw an opportunity arise and this small party allowed Hitler to enter Politics.
Drexler and Hitler set about organising many meetings. After hearing Hitler’s speeches the numbers of people attending these meetings slowly started to increase. In 1920, Hitler insisted that the German Workers Party should hold it’s first mass meeting. On February 24th 1920, two thousand people were reported to attend the meeting where Hitler gave a speech provoking violence between the party members and the many communists at the meeting. The meeting was very important as it gave Hitler the opportunity to outline the 25 point programme he produced with Anton Drexler. The 25 point programme was the Key stone into what Hitler believed in and the meeting gave Hitler a chance to express his extreme views on a large scale.
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Bibliography
- HITLER by Ian Kershaw – (Various pages)
- Weimar and Nazi Germany by John Hite and Chris Hinton – p. 55/56
- Microsoft Encarta 98
- THE WORLD AT WAR 1939-45, by Readers Digest, page 9
- www.historyplace.com
