Adolf Hitler: The Early Years

Adolf Hitler: The Early Years

On April 20, 1889, a demon was brought into this world. His name was Adolf Hitler. He was born in the family quarters of the Pommer Inn in Braunau, a small city on the Austrian border. The child was unhealthy and his mother, Klara, worried that young Adolf would not survive. Klara provided much love and attention to her baby, which Adolf would later take advantage of to get what he wanted (Smith 50). Despite his self-centeredness, Adolf held a deep bond with his mother which united them throughout his childhood. On the other hand, Alois, Adolf’s father, failed to play an important role in Adolf’s development. Alois spent the majority of his time away from the customs station with his friends instead of with his family, and showed little interest in his son, a chore he left for Klara. An occasional smile would escape Alois toward his son and through Klara, Adolf quickly learned that Alois held the power in the family. At the time, Adolf was the youngest of three children, Alois Jr. and Angela, and because he was the youngest, his brother and sister paid little attention to him. Because Adolf never established healthy relationships with his brother and sister, he cared little for each of them (Jetzinger 26). On March 24, 1894, Klara have birth to a boy who received the name of Edmund, which immediately stole Adolf’s position as mother’s little baby of the household.

In February of 1895, the family moved to Hafeld, Germany where Alois had purchased a farm called the Rauscher Gut. Adolf was quickly required to take on new responsibilities of the farm and also make the transition to school which he entered on May 1, 1895. Finally, on June 25 of that same year, Alois Hitler r...

... middle of paper ...

...s (Payne 78). One year later on August 1, Adolf came to the public plaza in Munich to celebrate the German Proclamation of war. Two days later, Hitler volunteered for the German Army, enlisting in a Bavarian regiment. He was now on his path toward the destruction of humankind.

WORKS CITED:

- Jenks, William Alexander. Vienna and the Young Hitler. New York: Octagon

Books, 1976.

- Jetzinger, Franz. Hitler's Youth. London: Hutchinson Publishers, 1958.

- Payne, Robert. The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler. New York: Praeger Books,

1973.

- Smith, Bradley F. Adolf Hitler: His Family, Childhood, and Youth. Stanford:

Hoover Institution Publications, 1976.

- Walther, Herbert. Der Fuhrer: The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler. New

Jersey: Chartwell Books, 1978.