Essay/Term paper: Hitler and his downfall

Essay, term paper, research paper:  World War

To many World War II has been the most devastating war in human history. It

had been global military conflict that caused the loss of millions of lives

as well as material destruction. The war began in Europe in September of

1939. It ended on May 8, 1945. This day was marked by the British

government as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The outcome of this war left a

new world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunuam Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889 and died

(committed suicide) on April 30, 1945. He was the son of a minor customs

official and a peasant girl. He had a love for reading although he never

completed high school and was rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts in

Vienna due to his lack of talent. Through reading he developed his

anti-democratic and anti-Jewish beliefs, the admiration for the outstanding

individual and contempt for the masses. By volunteering for service in the

Baverian Army during World War I, he proved himself as a dedicated and

courageous soldier. Since his sponsors felt that he lacked in leadership

quantities, he was never promoted beyond private first class. In September

1919, Hitler joined the Nationalist German Workers Party later changed its

name to the National Social German Workers (Nazi) Party. To become the

leader of Germany, he took advantage of the Great Depression of 1929 and

explained it as a Jewish Communist plot. Through promises of a strong

Germany, more jobs and national glory, he gained popularity and was

appointed chancellor in January 1933. Once in power, he established himself

as a dictator.

After World War I, Germany was dissatisfied with the outcome of the war.

There were large reparations to pay, their military power had been

restrained, they suffered and resented the territorial losses some of

which, were withheld as collateral, and Germany had been held accountable

for the entire war. Germany felt that they had been treated unjustly. Their

sense of German nationalism began to grow. Thus, Hitler withdrew Germany

from the League of Nations in October, 1933.

Hitler's first step to dominate this area failed in 1934. the first

Anschluss, which is the unification of Germany and Austria, was stopped by

Italy's Mussolini. At this time, Mussolini feared Hitler and Germany but

through the Spanish Civil War, they became allies and signed the

Anti-Cominterm Pact along with Japan. This pact was to resist the expansion

of communism. With Mussolini now on his side, Anschuluss was a success in

March of 1939. This move strengthened Germany's economy and put them in a

better position strategically, with Italy.

Czechoslovakia's Sudatan lands was Hitler's next step. To gain this

territory Hitler demanded self-determination for the Germans in this

region. Therefore the Munich Conference took place in September 1938 and

the results of this was the Sudatan Germans were seceded to Germany.

Present at this conference were representatives from Germany, Great

Britain, France, and Italy. Czechoslovakia was not represented. Poland then

laid claims on Teschen and Hungary on Carpatho-Ruthenia.

Hitler gained these areas by giving the west the impression that the only

reason he wanted them was to unify the Germans and Germany. The west, Great

Britain and France, allowed this because of a policy they had toward Hitler

and Germany called appeasement. The two main reasons they followed this

policy was the fear of Bolshevism and an attempt to prevent another war.

The next step for Hitler was the complete occupation of Czech. This was

accomplished on March 1939, just six months after the Munich conference.

Slovakia was left alone by Hitler's men but was an independent state. It's

Independence was just a front for Hitler to create a puppet state. Hitler's

victory in Czechoslovakia greatly enhanced their military position, but

above all helped arm his men with the aid of the Skoda Works which was now

under the control of Germany. The Skoda Works was the largest arms

manufacturer in Europe. Czechoslovakia had no alternative but to accept

Hitler's rule.

This was the end of the appeasement from Great Britain and France. they

then made a guarantee to both Poland and Bulgaria that in the event of a

German attack, they would come to their aid.

Hitler's next effort was directed towards Poland with the excuse of

regaining Danzig and the corridor to unit Germany. On September 1, 1939,

German troops invaded and attacked an incapable Polish army. While Germany

invaded with tanks and planes, Poland countered with men on horseback.

Polish troops not only fought against the Germans but against the Russians

on the Eastern border. In less than a month Poland was completely occupied

by Germany and Russia. Russia took up to the Curzon line and Germany

annexed the all German areas in the west. The center of Poland was left as

a German Protectorate, where the concentration camps were located. Neither

Yugoslavia or Bulgaria, both allies of Poland went to her aid. Also Great

Britain did nothing to support their guarantee. This marked the beginning

of World War II, a battle that was felt in more places than just Eastern

Europe.

Some people believe that the moment Hitler set foot into Poland, it was the

beginning of the end for Hitler. By attacking Poland, Hitler forced Great

Britain's hand and if Chamberlain had attempted to run out on his promise

to Poland and let Hitler get away with it once again, his parliamentary

position would be in jeopardy. As his campaign in Poland began he could not

have been conscious of the fact that, by taking on the British Empire, he

was not guaranteed that his brilliant and brief campaign, which he had

become accustom to would become involved and create global conflict.

Once Hitler gained control of Poland the other countries in Eastern Europe

followed. Romania feared Russia and surrendered economically to Hitler.

With the alliance Romania lost some land to Russia, Bessarabia and the

northern part of Bukovina. They also lost part of Translvania to Hungary

through the Second Vienna Award. Although the loss of land was harmful to

Rumania, they drew closer to Germany, because it recognized that Britain

was powerless in Eastern Europe and Germany was the only country strong

enough to protect the rest of her land from Russia. Hitler was also

prepared to aid Rumania due to his interest in the Ploesti oil fields.

Without these field Germany could no longer continue the war.

All of the southeastern countries, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and

Rumania, were now under Hitler's political and economical control. This was

achieved at little cost for Hitler, who would only have to station a few

divisions in Bulgaria to protect the oil fields. Everything seemed to be

running smoothly for him until Mussolini decided to go on the offensive in

Greece.

Mussolini was poorly advised through his prime minister, Ciano, that the

military campaign in Greece would be a quick success. Germany was taken

completely by surprise by Italy's actions, which she totally disapproved.

Hitler had to switch tracks at this time. He had to postpone his final

conflict of the war, Operation Barbosa, an attack on Russia and concentrate

on the Mediterranean.

Italy invaded Greece through Albania without a declaration of war. Without

the knowledge of guerrilla warfare, Italy found itself retreating back into

Albania. Greece spoke of liberation of Albania and at this point Hitler got

worried. With the difficulties Italy encountered he realized that this

would offer an opportunity for Great Britain to regain a foothold on the

continent. Hitler noted "whereas the Rumanian oil fields were previously

entirely inaccessible to English bombers" now the RAF was "within a

distance of less than 500 km" from Rumania and he considered this

development "down right ominous." At this point he discussed military

movements through Bulgaria to attack Greece.

Hitler's offensive in Greece lasted almost two months and in the end,

Germany converged all of Greek territory. Included in these two months is

Hitler's attack on Yugoslavia. Due to the political upheaval in Yugoslavia,

Hitler could no longer trust the new regime and for his conquest of Greece

to succeed he needed to attack from both Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. This

attack on Yugoslavia was called Operation Punishment.

Nearly two months later and with the loss of approximately ten divisions of

men, Hitler decided to begin his campaign against Russia, Operation

Barbarosa. Hitler felt threatened by Stalin and his interests in the

Mediterranean. Stalin also had interests in Romania and this could create

problems for Hitler's war effort due to his dependence on Romanian oil.

Therefore Hitler decided to attack Russia to protect his's own interests in

these areas along with his chances to win World War II.

Germany took the offensive with the aid of Bulgaria and Finland with Italy

able to provide more men during the summer. Consistent fighting and the

tremendous distances covered had placed a great strain on the attacking

strength of the German forces. Poor weather and breakdowns in mobile units

led to numerous delays. An example of this is that after the battle for

Kiev, Panzer Group 2 had only 30% of it's tanks remaining, altough Panzer

Group 3 and Group 4 were slightly better off. Supply lines were becoming

longer and longer, and the capacity of merchanized transport had greatly

declined. The railways were still operating, but they could not carry

enough equipment to keep the fronts supplied. By the middle of October

German troops were in excellent position surrounding Moscow. The problem of

supplies still remained. German forces depended on a narrow, long and

extremely vulnerable supply lines. The railway lines were operating but

they were very inefficient.

All of these factors along with one more major event led to the end of any

ligitament German offensive in World War II. This major event was winter.

As one German general put it, "The icy cold, the lack of shelter, the

shortage of clothing, the heavy losses of men and equipment, the wretched

state of our fuel supplied, all this makes the duties of a commander a

misery and the longer it goes on the more I am crushed by the

responsibility which I have to bear." Hitler admitted this when he canceled

his attack on Moscow. "The severe winter weather which has come

surprisingly early on the east and the consequent difficulties in bringing

up supplies, compel us to abandon immediately all major offensive

operations and go over to the defensive." At this point Hitler moved 70% of

his tanks and assault guns to the Russian front leaving Southern Europe

vulnerable.

In the Spring on 1943 American and Russian industrial production were at

their peak an Germany could no longer regain it's superiority in armaments.

The allies began attacking German armaments and destroying German cities.

Hitler's last major offensive came in July, but he confessed to his

commander that the entire offensive was all a gamble. This offensive was a

complete failure, due to Russia being completely prepared with extensive

defenses.

Along with this failure in Russia and the allies gaining ground in southern

Europe, Hitler also had to contend with resistance from within Poland. The

Home Army, consisting of 300,000 men caused havoc for Hitler's men

stationed in Poland. The fact that Hitler had to station more men in Poland

to contend with the Home Army took some strength away from his Russian

front, which could have saved him from defeat.

Russia forced Hitler back into a defensive withdrawal. He also lost command

of the air as allied planes were seen more and more along with Germany's

lack of fuel to train new pilots. Taking control over the air campaign was

a major step for the allies. This proved to be an important part of

Hitler's strategy which was now limited due to his lack of control. Hitler

quoted his idol Frederick the Great in saying: "I started this war with the

most wonderful army in Europe; today I've got a muck heap. I have no

leaders any more, my generals are incompetent, the troops are all

wretched." This quote alone states the condition Hitler and his forces were

in near the end of the war.

Even at the end, Hitler's military plans were brilliant and may have been

successful had he possessed sufficient resources and forces to ensure it a

reasonable chance of succeeding. Due to his lack of forces and supplies,

the Allies captured Berlin in April 1945. Hitler felt that both Germany and

his Generals had failed him and that only the weak will survive the war

because all the good men are already dead. Before Germany surrendered,

Hitler committed suicide.

Many historians have compared Hitler to Napolean. Both their failures have

been the underestimation of the Russian winter. Another of Hitler's faults

is the extreme overconfidence he possessed. Had he excepted failure in

Russia and retreated to regroup, his offensive may not have ended in

complete failure. He believed in complete domination or destruction. This

belief led to his downfall and to his decition to commit suicide.



References





Baird, Jay W. Nazi War Propoganda, 1939-1945. MineapolisUniversity of

Minnesota Press, 1974.



Collier, Basil. The Second World War: A Military History. 1967.

Massachusetts: Peter Smith, 1969.



Jacobson, H.A. and J. Rower, editors. Decisive Battles of World War IIThe

German View. New YorkG.P. Putnam Sons, 1960.



Lewin, Ronald. Hitler's Mistakes. New YorkWilliam Morrow and Company Inc.,

1984.



Van Creveld, Martin L. Hitler's Strategy 1940-1941. London: Cambridge

University Press, 1973.



Zapantis, Andrew L. Hitler's Balkan Campaign and the Invasion of the USSR.

Boulder, CO: Eastern Europe Monographs, 1987.

Hitler and His Downfall

To many World War II has been the most devastating war in human history. It

had been global military conflict that caused the loss of millions of lives

as well as material destruction. The war began in Europe in September of

1939. It ended on May 8, 1945. This day was marked by the British

government as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The outcome of this war left a

new world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunuam Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889 and died

(committed suicide) on April 30, 1945. He was the son of a minor customs

official and a peasant girl. He had a love for reading although he never

completed high school and was rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts in

Vienna due to his lack of talent. Through reading he developed his

anti-democratic and anti-Jewish beliefs, the admiration for the outstanding

individual and contempt for the masses. By volunteering for service in the

Baverian Army during World War I, he proved himself as a dedicated and

courageous soldier. Since his sponsors felt that he lacked in leadership

quantities, he was never promoted beyond private first class. In September

1919, Hitler joined the Nationalist German Workers Party later changed its

name to the National Social German Workers (Nazi) Party. To become the

leader of Germany, he took advantage of the Great Depression of 1929 and

explained it as a Jewish Communist plot. Through promises of a strong

Germany, more jobs and national glory, he gained popularity and was

appointed chancellor in January 1933. Once in power, he established himself

as a dictator.

After World War I, Germany was dissatisfied with the outcome of the war.

There were large reparations to pay, their military power had been

restrained, they suffered and resented the territorial losses some of

which, were withheld as collateral, and Germany had been held accountable

for the entire war. Germany felt that they had been treated unjustly. Their

sense of German nationalism began to grow. Thus, Hitler withdrew Germany

from the League of Nations in October, 1933.

Hitler's first step to dominate this area failed in 1934. the first

Anschluss, which is the unification of Germany and Austria, was stopped by

Italy's Mussolini. At this time, Mussolini feared Hitler and Germany but

through the Spanish Civil War, they became allies and signed the

Anti-Cominterm Pact along with Japan. This pact was to resist the expansion

of communism. With Mussolini now on his side, Anschuluss was a success in

March of 1939. This move strengthened Germany's economy and put them in a

better position strategically, with Italy.

Czechoslovakia's Sudatan lands was Hitler's next step. To gain this

territory Hitler demanded self-determination for the Germans in this

region. Therefore the Munich Conference took place in September 1938 and

the results of this was the Sudatan Germans were seceded to Germany.

Present at this conference were representatives from Germany, Great

Britain, France, and Italy. Czechoslovakia was not represented. Poland then

laid claims on Teschen and Hungary on Carpatho-Ruthenia.

Hitler gained these areas by giving the west the impression that the only

reason he wanted them was to unify the Germans and Germany. The west, Great

Britain and France, allowed this because of a policy they had toward Hitler

and Germany called appeasement. The two main reasons they followed this

policy was the fear of Bolshevism and an attempt to prevent another war.

The next step for Hitler was the complete occupation of Czech. This was

accomplished on March 1939, just six months after the Munich conference.

Slovakia was left alone by Hitler's men but was an independent state. It's

Independence was just a front for Hitler to create a puppet state. Hitler's

victory in Czechoslovakia greatly enhanced their military position, but

above all helped arm his men with the aid of the Skoda Works which was now

under the control of Germany. The Skoda Works was the largest arms

manufacturer in Europe. Czechoslovakia had no alternative but to accept

Hitler's rule.

This was the end of the appeasement from Great Britain and France. they

then made a guarantee to both Poland and Bulgaria that in the event of a

German attack, they would come to their aid.

Hitler's next effort was directed towards Poland with the excuse of

regaining Danzig and the corridor to unit Germany. On September 1, 1939,

German troops invaded and attacked an incapable Polish army. While Germany

invaded with tanks and planes, Poland countered with men on horseback.

Polish troops not only fought against the Germans but against the Russians

on the Eastern border. In less than a month Poland was completely occupied

by Germany and Russia. Russia took up to the Curzon line and Germany

annexed the all German areas in the west. The center of Poland was left as

a German Protectorate, where the concentration camps were located. Neither

Yugoslavia or Bulgaria, both allies of Poland went to her aid. Also Great

Britain did nothing to support their guarantee. This marked the beginning

of World War II, a battle that was felt in more places than just Eastern

Europe.

Some people believe that the moment Hitler set foot into Poland, it was the

beginning of the end for Hitler. By attacking Poland, Hitler forced Great

Britain's hand and if Chamberlain had attempted to run out on his promise

to Poland and let Hitler get away with it once again, his parliamentary

position would be in jeopardy. As his campaign in Poland began he could not

have been conscious of the fact that, by taking on the British Empire, he

was not guaranteed that his brilliant and brief campaign, which he had

become accustom to would become involved and create global conflict.

Once Hitler gained control of Poland the other countries in Eastern Europe

followed. Romania feared Russia and surrendered economically to Hitler.

With the alliance Romania lost some land to Russia, Bessarabia and the

northern part of Bukovina. They also lost part of Translvania to Hungary

through the Second Vienna Award. Although the loss of land was harmful to

Rumania, they drew closer to Germany, because it recognized that Britain

was powerless in Eastern Europe and Germany was the only country strong

enough to protect the rest of her land from Russia. Hitler was also

prepared to aid Rumania due to his interest in the Ploesti oil fields.

Without these field Germany could no longer continue the war.

All of the southeastern countries, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and

Rumania, were now under Hitler's political and economical control. This was

achieved at little cost for Hitler, who would only have to station a few

divisions in Bulgaria to protect the oil fields. Everything seemed to be

running smoothly for him until Mussolini decided to go on the offensive in

Greece.

Mussolini was poorly advised through his prime minister, Ciano, that the

military campaign in Greece would be a quick success. Germany was taken

completely by surprise by Italy's actions, which she totally disapproved.

Hitler had to switch tracks at this time. He had to postpone his final

conflict of the war, Operation Barbosa, an attack on Russia and concentrate

on the Mediterranean.

Italy invaded Greece through Albania without a declaration of war. Without

the knowledge of guerrilla warfare, Italy found itself retreating back into

Albania. Greece spoke of liberation of Albania and at this point Hitler got

worried. With the difficulties Italy encountered he realized that this

would offer an opportunity for Great Britain to regain a foothold on the

continent. Hitler noted "whereas the Rumanian oil fields were previously

entirely inaccessible to English bombers" now the RAF was "within a

distance of less than 500 km" from Rumania and he considered this

development "down right ominous." At this point he discussed military

movements through Bulgaria to attack Greece.

Hitler's offensive in Greece lasted almost two months and in the end,

Germany converged all of Greek territory. Included in these two months is

Hitler's attack on Yugoslavia. Due to the political upheaval in Yugoslavia,

Hitler could no longer trust the new regime and for his conquest of Greece

to succeed he needed to attack from both Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. This

attack on Yugoslavia was called Operation Punishment.

Nearly two months later and with the loss of approximately ten divisions of

men, Hitler decided to begin his campaign against Russia, Operation

Barbarosa. Hitler felt threatened by Stalin and his interests in the

Mediterranean. Stalin also had interests in Romania and this could create

problems for Hitler's war effort due to his dependence on Romanian oil.

Therefore Hitler decided to attack Russia to protect his's own interests in

these areas along with his chances to win World War II.

Germany took the offensive with the aid of Bulgaria and Finland with Italy

able to provide more men during the summer. Consistent fighting and the

tremendous distances covered had placed a great strain on the attacking

strength of the German forces. Poor weather and breakdowns in mobile units

led to numerous delays. An example of this is that after the battle for

Kiev, Panzer Group 2 had only 30% of it's tanks remaining, altough Panzer

Group 3 and Group 4 were slightly better off. Supply lines were becoming

longer and longer, and the capacity of merchanized transport had greatly

declined. The railways were still operating, but they could not carry

enough equipment to keep the fronts supplied. By the middle of October

German troops were in excellent position surrounding Moscow. The problem of

supplies still remained. German forces depended on a narrow, long and

extremely vulnerable supply lines. The railway lines were operating but

they were very inefficient.

All of these factors along with one more major event led to the end of any

ligitament German offensive in World War II. This major event was winter.

As one German general put it, "The icy cold, the lack of shelter, the

shortage of clothing, the heavy losses of men and equipment, the wretched

state of our fuel supplied, all this makes the duties of a commander a

misery and the longer it goes on the more I am crushed by the

responsibility which I have to bear." Hitler admitted this when he canceled

his attack on Moscow. "The severe winter weather which has come

surprisingly early on the east and the consequent difficulties in bringing

up supplies, compel us to abandon immediately all major offensive

operations and go over to the defensive." At this point Hitler moved 70% of

his tanks and assault guns to the Russian front leaving Southern Europe

vulnerable.

In the Spring on 1943 American and Russian industrial production were at

their peak an Germany could no longer regain it's superiority in armaments.

The allies began attacking German armaments and destroying German cities.

Hitler's last major offensive came in July, but he confessed to his

commander that the entire offensive was all a gamble. This offensive was a

complete failure, due to Russia being completely prepared with extensive

defenses.

Along with this failure in Russia and the allies gaining ground in southern

Europe, Hitler also had to contend with resistance from within Poland. The

Home Army, consisting of 300,000 men caused havoc for Hitler's men

stationed in Poland. The fact that Hitler had to station more men in Poland

to contend with the Home Army took some strength away from his Russian

front, which could have saved him from defeat.

Russia forced Hitler back into a defensive withdrawal. He also lost command

of the air as allied planes were seen more and more along with Germany's

lack of fuel to train new pilots. Taking control over the air campaign was

a major step for the allies. This proved to be an important part of

Hitler's strategy which was now limited due to his lack of control. Hitler

quoted his idol Frederick the Great in saying: "I started this war with the

most wonderful army in Europe; today I've got a muck heap. I have no

leaders any more, my generals are incompetent, the troops are all

wretched." This quote alone states the condition Hitler and his forces were

in near the end of the war.

Even at the end, Hitler's military plans were brilliant and may have been

successful had he possessed sufficient resources and forces to ensure it a

reasonable chance of succeeding. Due to his lack of forces and supplies,

the Allies captured Berlin in April 1945. Hitler felt that both Germany and

his Generals had failed him and that only the weak will survive the war

because all the good men are already dead. Before Germany surrendered,

Hitler committed suicide.

Many historians have compared Hitler to Napolean. Both their failures have

been the underestimation of the Russian winter. Another of Hitler's faults

is the extreme overconfidence he possessed. Had he excepted failure in

Russia and retreated to regroup, his offensive may not have ended in

complete failure. He believed in complete domination or destruction. This

belief led to his downfall and to his decition to commit suicide.



References





Baird, Jay W. Nazi War Propoganda, 1939-1945. MineapolisUniversity of

Minnesota Press, 1974.



Collier, Basil. The Second World War: A Military History. 1967.

Massachusetts: Peter Smith, 1969.



Jacobson, H.A. and J. Rower, editors. Decisive Battles of World War IIThe

German View. New YorkG.P. Putnam Sons, 1960.



Lewin, Ronald. Hitler's Mistakes. New YorkWilliam Morrow and Company Inc.,

1984.



Van Creveld, Martin L. Hitler's Strategy 1940-1941. London: Cambridge

University Press, 1973.



Zapantis, Andrew L. Hitler's Balkan Campaign and the Invasion of the USSR.

Boulder, CO: Eastern Europe Monographs, 1987.