"I do not see why man should not be just as cruel as nature"

Long been the focus of many debates and arguments, I hold that Adolf Hitler is one of the most controversial leaders ever to walk the Earth. Most find it hard to believe how a man so cruel and odd looking became the leader of such a powerful country, but maybe there was an actual method in his madness. Hitler's rise to power was not through that of brute force, but through his ideas of a better, superior Germany. In 1913 through his skills as a leader, his superior public speaking, his exceptional propaganda and, his promises to the German people and the organization of the Nazi party, Hitler rose to power.

For much of the world today, the name Adolf Hitler goes hand in hand with thoughts of hatred, criminality, and just pure evil, and rightly so. But though he is responsible for the greatest genocide known to humanity, Hitler was still one of the most influential World leaders of all time. Adolf Hitler was born on the 20th of April, 1889. His schooling record was always a poor one, and in his early teens he left. He originally sought to become an artist, but in his late teen years he gained an interest in politics and history. Unfortunately this newfound interest didn't take him far in his early years, for when mother died (he was about 19 years of age) he no longer had close relatives willing to support him. He spent the next four years living on the streets and in shelters.

Around 1914 he moved to the city of Munich in southern Germany and with the outbreak of the first World War, he volunteered for service in the German army. A majority of his enlistment period was spent as a prisoner-of-war, at a camp at Traunstein before he again returned to Munich. Because he had been involved with politics, when he did return his responsibilities were that of publicity and propaganda. Hitler had success with this drawing thousands of people to his speeches and the group had changed their name to the National Socialist German Workers Party on April 1st 1920. By 1921 Hitler had virtually secured total control of the Nazi party.

The Adolf Hitler and Nazi rise to power movement happened quickly. I attribute most of this to the fact that the German nation as a whole had a bleak outlook regarding its future. For many the loss of World War I was still a very vivid memory, and with the economic depression in full effect it was a very unique opportunity for an excellent speaker that was promoting a better life for Germans and an entirely new Germany. Hitler attracted many people to his sessions, all who were eager for change in their country and who could never could have seen what was ultimately going to happen.

Albeit he was more than just a little off his rocker, Hitler was a political genius. He was able to restore Germany after it's humiliation after World War I and the treaty of Versailles and is known as one of the greatest leaders in history.