in September 1919, a

former artist and army

veteran named Adolf
Hitler joined the ranks
of the German workers
party upon discovering
them after he was sent
to spy on them during
a secret mission in
Munich. This decision
would not only have an
impact on Germany
but the whole world.

But just how did a

democracy like
Germany fall under the
hands of a tyrant in the
first place?

It all traces back to the

defeat of Germany to
the allies in world war
one. The German
leaders were forced to
sign the treaty of
Versailles which
demanded them to
shrink their army, pay
reparations and even
give up land.
As the imperial
government collapsed,
civil unrest and
protests spread out
across the nation.
Fearing a communist
revolution, major
parties joined together
to form the Weimer
republic.
Many Germans felt
betrayed by their
leadership. In this
climate of bitterness
Hitler rose to
prominence. As a
gifted public speaker,
he captured the
people’s
disillusionment with a
number of speeches
calling for a unified
Germany. He insisted
that a group of people
were to blame for all
this, the jews.

Hitler and his

followers attempted a
government coup but
the planned failed and
Hitler was jailed for
treasons for 9 months.
In 1929 the great
depression happened.
Hitler took advantage
of the people’s anger
and made a promise to
restore Germany’s
former greatness. And
so, some of the
frustrated public
flocked to the Nazi’s
increasing their votes
in just two years.

In 1932 Hitler ran for

president but lost. But
his increasing
popularity inspired
general von
Hindenburg to appoint
him as chancellor.

Though he was only

chancellor Hitler
wasted no time in
extending the power of
his position.

In 1933 a young
worker was convicted
of setting fire to a
parliament building
and Hitler used this
event to convince the
government to grant
him emergency
powers.

He tripled the number

of the army,
disobeying the treaty
of Versailles, freedom
of press was abolished,
other parties were
disbanded and anti-
Jewish laws were
passed which
prohibited them from
working, voting and
staying in public
places.
After the death of
president von
Hindenburg in 1934,
Hitler declared himself
Fuhrer and using
article 48 create a
single party
dictatorship.

With Germany under

his total control, Hitler
would shift his focus to
global domination,
setting the stage for
World War two.