SCHOOLS PAGE: A short history of World War Two

2 - The Evil of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler and one his generals

In the late 1920's and early 1930's, Adolf Hitler became famous for making speeches at public meetings.  As a child he had been beaten by his father, then his mother had died when he was still young. 

He grew up to be very hateful of those who he thought were happier than himself.  Hitler particularly disliked Jews who he thought had not supported other Germans who had fought in World War 1.  He was also jealous of their apparent wealth and annoyed when Jewish owned art galleries refused to display the paintings which he had created as an artist. 

Hitler quickly attracted many new friends with the same silly ideas which he had.  He loved to blame everyone else for Germany remaining so poor, whether it was the Jews, rich people, or even poorer Polish people who came to Germany looking for jobs.  Hitler thought all jobs should only go to German -born men and women. 

When he took over control of the major political party - the Nazi party - Hitler formed his own army of secret police and ruthlessly had anyone who criticised him either killed or beaten up and made to be so afraid that they would not dare speak out against him. 

Even though it was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler ordered that the German "Heer" (Army) and "Luftwaffe" (Air Force) should be secretly expanded.  New weapons and planes were developed but hidden from the rest of the world as plans were made to try once more to expand the German nation by invading neighbouring countries. 

In the late 1930's, people who lived in Germany slowly became aware of what was happening.  Terrified that there might be another war, many of them fled their homes and left Germany, taking their families to live in other countries including Britain and America. As attacks on Jews and their homes, businesses, schools and places of worship increased, more and more of them fled Germany to other parts of Europe and America.

Next   -   3: How the War Started