Adolf Hitler is one of the most notorious figures in modern history. His association with Nazi Germany has made him one of the most talked-about and controversial people ever.
Hitler was born in Austria on April 20th, 1889, and grew up in Linz. As a young man, he was an artist and was rejected twice by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.
Hitler enlisted in the German army during World War I and was decorated with the Iron Cross for bravery. He was seriously wounded in 1918 and spent the remainder of the war recovering in hospital.
Hitler moved to Munich after the war and joined the early Nazi Party in 1920. His charisma and skills as an orator quickly attracted a strong following and helped the Nazi party rise to power in 1933.
As Chancellor, Hitler began enacting anti-Semitic policies, including the Nuremberg laws, which discriminated against Jewish citizens. He also passed policies to restore Germany's economy, reducing unemployment and kick-starting industry.
By 1939, Hitler began invading neighboring European countries, leading to the outbreak of World War II. He also authorized the extermination of millions of Jews during this time as part of the Holocaust.
In 1945, Germany was defeated, and Hitler committed suicide rather than submitting to capture by Allied forces.
Since his death, historians have debated the degree to which Hitler was personally responsible for the atrocities in his name.
After his death, Hitler was largely demonized in the international community, though some far-right groups have tried to romanticize him.
Despite his association with evil and darkness, Hitler was purportedly a vegetarian who didn't smoke or drink and was very protective of animals.
He was also an accomplished painter and a prolific reader, with a library of more than 16,000 volumes.
