Adolph Hitler was the most infamous political ruler of the twentieth century. Hitler rose from obscurity to become the leader of Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, triggering World War II because of his expansionist foreign policy. Moreover, as the philosophical and political leader of the s National Socialist (Nazi) Party, Hitler implemented government policies based on anti-Semitism and racism. These policies became more severe over time and lead to the mass extermination of Jews, racial minorities and other groups. Though Hitler committed suicide in the last days of the war, many of his aides were convicted at the Nuremberg Trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Hitler was born in Braunauam Inn, Austria on April 20, 1889. Hitler dropped out of high school and moved to Vienna, but he found that his dream of becoming a painter was impossible to realize. At this time Vienna was a hot...