Adolf Hitler's Milestones

Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany, responsible for starting World War II and orchestrating the Holocaust, which led to the deaths of millions before his suicide in 1945.
1889

Birth

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary, to Alois Hitler and Klara Pölzl.

Family April 20, 1889
1892

Family moved to Passau

Family moved to Passau, Germany, and later to Leonding near Linz.

Location January 1, 1892 - January 1, 1894
1903

Father died

Hitler's father, Alois, died in Leonding, Austria.

Family January 3, 1903
1907

Rejected by Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Twice rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, ending his hopes of becoming an artist.

Achievement October 1, 1907 - October 1, 1908

Mother died

His mother, Klara, died of breast cancer; Hitler was deeply affected.

Family December 21, 1907
1908

Lived in Vienna

Lived in poverty in Vienna, developing anti-Semitic and nationalist views.

Location February 1, 1908 - May 1, 1913
1913

Moved to Munich

Moved to Munich, Germany, to avoid Austrian military service.

Location May 1, 1913
1914

World War I service

Served as a soldier in the Bavarian Army during World War I, wounded, awarded the Iron Cross, and promoted to corporal.

Other August 3, 1914 - October 15, 1918
1918

Hospitalized for gas attack

Hospitalized after being blinded in a gas attack near the end of WWI.

Other October 15, 1918 - November 15, 1918
1919

Joined German Workers' Party

Joined the German Workers' Party, which later became the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).

Career September 12, 1919
1921

Became party leader

Became chairman of the Nazi Party, gaining control over its direction.

Career July 29, 1921
1923

Beer Hall Putsch

Led the failed Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, resulting in his imprisonment.

Other November 8, 1923 - November 9, 1923
1924

Wrote 'Mein Kampf'

Wrote 'Mein Kampf' during his imprisonment, outlining his ideology and future plans for Germany.

Achievement July 1, 1924 - December 20, 1924
1925

Rebuilding the Nazi Party

Rebuilt the Nazi Party, using propaganda and mass rallies to gain support.

Career February 26, 1925 - January 1, 1932
1932

Presidential campaign

Ran for President of Germany, losing to Paul von Hindenburg but increasing his national profile.

Achievement March 13, 1932 - April 10, 1932
1933

Appointed Chancellor

Appointed Chancellor of Germany, marking the start of Nazi rule.

Career January 30, 1933

Reichstag Fire and Enabling Act

Used the Reichstag Fire as a pretext to pass the Enabling Act, granting dictatorial powers.

Other February 27, 1933 - March 23, 1933
1934

Night of the Long Knives

Ordered the purge of SA leadership and political opponents, consolidating power.

Other June 30, 1934 - July 2, 1934

President of Germany

Became Führer (leader) of Germany after Hindenburg's death, merging the offices of president and chancellor.

Career August 2, 1934
1935

Nuremberg Laws enacted

Enacted the Nuremberg Laws, institutionalizing anti-Semitic and racist policies.

Other September 15, 1935
1936

Remilitarization of the Rhineland

Ordered German troops into the demilitarized Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

Other March 7, 1936
1938

Annexation of Austria (Anschluss)

Annexed Austria into Nazi Germany in the Anschluss.

Other March 12, 1938

Munich Agreement and Sudetenland

Secured the Munich Agreement, annexing the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

Other September 30, 1938

Kristallnacht

Orchestrated Kristallnacht, a violent anti-Jewish pogrom throughout Nazi Germany.

Other November 9, 1938 - November 10, 1938
1939

World War II begins

Ordered the invasion of Poland, starting World War II.

Other September 1, 1939
1940

Invasion of France and Low Countries

Ordered invasions of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Other May 10, 1940 - June 25, 1940

Battle of Britain

Launched the Battle of Britain, the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces.

Other July 10, 1940 - October 31, 1940
1941

Operation Barbarossa

Launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Other June 22, 1941

Holocaust

Orchestrated the Holocaust, resulting in the genocide of six million Jews and millions of others.

Other June 22, 1941 - May 8, 1945
1943

Stalingrad defeat

Suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad, marking a turning point in WWII.

Other February 2, 1943
1944

D-Day and Allied advances

Faced Allied landings in Normandy and subsequent advances into Germany.

Other June 6, 1944 - April 1, 1945
1945

Death

Adolf Hitler died by suicide in his bunker in Berlin as Allied forces closed in on the city.

Other April 30, 1945

Germany surrenders

Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies, ending WWII in Europe.

Other May 8, 1945

Legacy and denazification

Hitler's legacy is one of genocide, war, and totalitarianism; Germany underwent denazification and remembrance efforts.

Other May 9, 1945 - June 5, 2025