Adolf Hitler's Role in World War II

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the second World War was in fact a return to the unfinished business of the first World War and the idea of a progression from World War I to World War II is unavoidable. Signs that war was brewing on the horizon were evident ever since Hitler took power, effectively putting an end to the Weimar Republic and transforming Germany into a fascist state. The writer maintains that it should be noted that Hitler did not merely seize power; he had the full support of the majority of Germans, who, humiliated by their defeat in the first World War and the subsequent sanctions imposed on them by the Versailles Treaty, were anxious to seek revenge against their enemies. The writer discusses that while Germany's grievances might have been settled by diplomatic means, were another strong, less violent leader in political office, Hitler was visibly determined to go to war from the outset. In trying to restore dignity to his country, Adolf Hitler completely destroyed Germany, effectively doing a lot more damage to it than the First World War had done. The writer concludes that it is through studying the lessons of history - and the ruthless actions of such tyrants as Adolf Hitler - that one may learn from the mistakes of the past, and hopefully use those lessons to avoid the destructive impulses that lead to world war.

From the Paper:

" While his military advisors did everything in their power to deter Hitler's ruthless rampage, this did not stop him from declaring war on the United States in December of 1941. By now, it seemed that Hitler was no longer merely attempting to tone for the losses his country suffered as a result of the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles. His rage was motivated by something else, something more personal; indeed, from the point of view of Adolf Hitler, the Second World War was merely an extension of "Mein Kampf" (my struggle). No sane leader would have dared to take on the leader of the free world at that point in time. By declaring war on the United States of America at that point in the war, Hitler was effectively taking on the Soviet Union, the British Empire, and the United States all at once. The United States was the world's greatest industrial and financial power, the Brits claimed the world's largest empire at the time, and the Soviet Union boasted the world's largest army. There was no way Germany was prepared to fight for this war, as they were not even capable of providing their soldiers with adequate clothing and supplies against the harsh Russian climate."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bielenberg, C. (1972). The Past is Myself. London: Chatto & Windus.
• Hitler, A. (1925). Mein Kampf. Retrieved 4 December 2007 from http://www.hitler.org/writings/Mein_Kampf/mkv1ch01.html.
• Lukacs, J. (2006). June 1941: Hitler and Stalin. New Haven: Yale University Press.
• Neville, P. (2006). Hitler and Appeasement: The British Attempt to Prevent the Second World War. New York: Hambledon Continuum.
• Wilkinson, J. and Hughes, H.S. (2003). Contemporary Europe: A History. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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