Hitler, Adolf(Der Fuhrer)

1889 - Born in Braunau, Austria; it was the birth of a German Nazi dictator, orator, and politician

1907 - Went to Vienna to fulfill his dream of becoming an artist but he failed in his exam to the Academy of Fine Arts

1913 - Immigrated to Bavaria.

1914-1918 - Fought in Bavarian regiment in World War I, receiving Iron Cross, First Class.

1919 - Joined German Workers' Party in Munich.

1920 - Placed in charge of propaganda for German Workers' Party (name changed to Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeitpartei also Nazi German Workers' Party)

1921 - Named president of Nazi Party, with dictatorial power over party apparatus

         - Gained support of Erich Ludendorff

1923 - Using Erich Ludendorff as figurehead, led unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Bavarian government (Beer Hall Putsch), in Munich.

         - Led the Storm Troopers of more than 2, 000 individuals for the purpose of seizing the Bavarian government.

         - It failed and he got arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.

1923-1924 - Imprisoned in Landsberg fortress.

         - While in prison, wrote "Mein Kampf" (also "My Struggle" dictated to Rudolf Hess)

         - In 1924, he got prematurely paroled.

1929 - Resumed Nazi organizational and propagandist activities, gaining many converts due largely to worsening economy and rising nationalism.

1930 - Protested against paying the debt of Germany during the World War I and blamed the burden to the Jews and Communists.

1932 - Candidate for president of Germany, but only garnered 40% of the votes so he got defeated by Paul von Hindenburg.

         - Helped secure lifting of ban on Nazi Storm Troops, leading to period of increased street skirmishes with opposition groups.

1933 - Offered chancellorship after resignation of Franz von Papen, but declined upon failing to receive guarantee of full power.

         - After resignation of Kurt von Schleicher, appointed chancellor by Paul von Hindenburg

         - Declared national boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

         - Declared Nazi Party to be sole official political party.

         - Withdrew Germany from League of Nations.

1933-1945 - Chancellor of Germany.

         - Oversaw passage of Civil Service Law 1933, enabling dismissal of non-Aryan public officials.

1934 - Was granted dictatorial powers, lasting through 1937, as result of Enabling Act passed by Reichstag

         - Established summary People's Court, to try cases of treason.

         - Instigated Great Blood Purge, executing seventy-four people, including senior party officials, for alleged plot against Hitler regime.

         - Upon death of Paul von Hindenburg, received title of president (confirmed by plebiscite), assumed title of Fuhrer, and gained dictatorial powers on permanent basis.

1935 - Following favorable plebiscite in Saar basin, reincorporated Saar region of France into Germany

         - Repudiated disarmament clauses of Versailles Treaty and reinstituted compulsory military service.

         - Instituted Nuremberg Laws, depriving Jews of civil rights and banning intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles.

1936 - Repudiated Locarno Pacts and reoccupied Rhineland.

         - With Galeazzo Ciano, negotiated formation of Berlin-Rome Axis.

         - Concluded pact with Japan.

         - Recognized Francisco Franco regime as government of Spain.

1938 - Invaded and annexed Austria (Anschluss)

         - In response to separatist agitation by ethnic Germans in Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, annexed Sudetenland, annexation recognized by major powers in Munich Pact of 1938.

1938-1945 - German defense minister, intending to exert direct control over military operations

         - Throughout chancellorship, directed systematic oppression and extermination (Holocaust) of ethnic, religious, and social minorities, especially Jews.

1939 - Annexed Bohemia and Moravia, dissolving Czechoslovakia but leaving Slovakia nominally independent.

         - Negotiated non-aggression pact with Russia.

         - Invaded Poland, starting World War II.

1940 - Invaded Norway and Denmark, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, and Netherlands.

         - Occupied Paris and most of France 1940, concluding armistice with Henri Petain with Italy and Japan, concluded Tripartite Pact.

1941 - Invaded Yugoslavia.

         - Despite non-aggression pact with Joseph Stalin, launched surprise invasion of Russia.

         - Continued to exercise direct supervision of military operations, despite lack of strategic ability, leading to failure of Russia campaign and down turning of German fortunes.

1944 - Survived assassination attempt, led by German officers hoping to place competent military leadership in control and save Germany from total defeat.

         - Facing imminent defeat and Russian occupation of Berlin, suicide in bunker in Berlin, days before Germany's unconditional surrender.

         - As direct instigator of Holocaust and World War II, often cited as ultimate embodiment of evil.

1945 - On April 30, he committed suicide in his bunker.

• "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so."
• "Go ahead, kill without mercy. After all, who remembers today the Armenian Genocide?"
• "I am convinced that nothing will happen to me, for I know the greatness of the task for which Providence has chosen me."
• "Where do I want to go today? Poland, Czechoslovakia, France. Can Microsoft Office do that for me?"
• "The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category."