Volume 1: Chapter 5, The World War Summary and Analysis

Hitler follows the events of the Boer War with interest, eagerly awaiting the newspapers every day. He also follows the progress of the Russo-Japanese War. Hitler supports the Japanese. He hears the news of the death of the Archduke Ferdinand while he is at home in Munich and worries at first that it is the work of German fanatic students. Then Germany becomes involved in World War I. He applies to join a Bavarian regiment and is accepted and sent to Flanders. He describes the experience of being a soldier in philosophical terms. He finds the soldiers to be very heroic and more valuable than the politicians and parliamentarians. Hitler comes to hate the politicians.

Hitler finds two things wrong with their policies. The first is the way they handle victories. They spoon-feed...