Adolf Hitler

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Economic and political crises faced by Germany's Weimar Republic

How did Joseph Goebbels's use of propaganda and terror aid Adolf Hitler's campaign for chancellor?

How did Hitler seize power in Germany?

Learn about the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the antisemitism they fomented in pre-WWII Germany

Rise of Hitler and Nazi terror tactics

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Germany invades Poland, September 1, 1939, using 45 German divisions and aerial attack. By September 20, only Warsaw held out, but final surrender came on September 29.

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Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler summary

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Adolf Hitler: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Ye's song praising Hitler was pulled from most online platforms. Are they doing enough? • May 15, 2025, 5:59 AM ET (CBC)

Why Kanye West's pro-Hitler song is illegal in Germany • May 14, 2025, 6:27 AM ET (Deutsche Welle)

A trove of forgotten Nazi documents is found in Argentina's Supreme Court basement • May 13, 2025, 2:26 AM ET (NPR)

World War II ended in Europe 80 years ago. Celebrating V-E Day is now tinged with some dread • May 9, 2025, 12:02 AM ET (AP)

The world marks the 80th anniversary of V-E Day with parades and memorials. Here's what to know • May 8, 2025, 1:06 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Born	April 20, 1889 • Braunau • Austria
Died	April 30, 1945 (aged 56) • Berlin • Germany
Title / Office	Führer (1934-1945), Germany • chancellor (1933-1945), Germany
Founder	Hitler Youth • SA • SS
Political Affiliation	Nazi Party
Awards And Honors	Iron Cross (1918) • Iron Cross (1914)
Notable Works	“Mein Kampf”
Notable Family Members	spouse Eva Braun
Role In	Anglo-German Naval Agreement • Anschluss • Anti-Comintern Pact • Beer Hall Putsch • Drang nach Osten • final solution • First Battle of Ypres • German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact • Holocaust • July Plot • Kristallnacht • Munich Agreement • Nazism • Night of the Long Knives • Nürnberg Rally • Operation Barbarossa • Pact of Steel • T4 Program • World War I • World War II • the Blitz • Enabling Act

Did You Know?

The KGB claims that they destroyed Hitler's remains and scattered his ashes so that his grave would not become a shrine for his supporters.
When tested, the skull fragment that Russia held which supposedly belonged to Hitler was definitively found to belong to a female.
The execution and humiliation of Mussolini and his mistress after fascist Italy fell are said to have contributed to Hitler's decision to commit suicide along with his wife.

Photos and Videos

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Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini

Economic and political crises faced by Germany's Weimar Republic

How did Joseph Goebbels's use of propaganda and terror aid Adolf Hitler's campaign for chancellor?

How did Hitler seize power in Germany?

Learn about the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the antisemitism they fomented in pre-WWII Germany

Rise of Hitler and Nazi terror tactics

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Quiz

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World War II Quiz

Germany invades Poland, September 1, 1939, using 45 German divisions and aerial attack. By September 20, only Warsaw held out, but final surrender came on September 29.

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Adolf Hitler, giving Nazi salute. To Hitler's right is Rudolph Hess. 1939.

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List

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Commemorative medal of Nobel Prize winner, Johannes Diderik Van Der Waals

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Nazi Germany, Nazi SS troops marching with victory standards at the Party Day rally in Nuremberg, Germany, 1933. (Schutzstaffel, Nazi Party, Nurnberg)

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