Apr. 22

Adolph Hitler

I. To understand National Socialism, have to understand something about Hitler. Made himself the absolutely key figure, the personification, first, of the party, then of the nation as race.

A. Hence need to explore his personality and his psychology. But:
B. The personal does not explain everything we need to know. Have to bring in larger issues of German history and culture to understand the movement and regime, to comprehend the magnetic appeal that he was able to exercise.

II. Childhood.

A. Born 1889 Brunau am Inn (Austria).
B. Conventional background, despite the myths Hitler constructed of his extremely difficult childhood.
C. At age 3, move to Passau, at age 5, to Linz, where he spent the most important years of his youth.
D. Left school in 1905. Goes to Vienna 1907 for a visit, moves there later in 1907 with a boyhood friend.

III. Youth and Vienna.

A. Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

1. A cultural capital.
2. A political capital.
3. Multiethnic nature of the city.
4. Lively, strong, mass political parties.

B. Personal disappointments.

1. Rejection from Academy of Fine arts October 1907 and September 1908. Latter time not even admitted to exam.
2. Mother dies December 1907.

C. Back and forth between Vienna and Linz 1907-09, then settles there permanently 1909-13.

1. The down and out existence in Vienna.

D. Moves to Munich 1913--to escape draft.
E. In Munich for the great event, the outbreak of World War I, which would dramatically change his life.

IV. After Vienna, the critical stations in his life were:

A. The army in World War I.
B. Munich in the postwar years, 1918-24.