ADOLF HITLER

born on 20th April, 1889, in the small Austrian town

of Braunau
Hitler's parents had come from poor peasant families
His father Alois Hitler, the illegitimate son of a
housemaid, was an intelligent and ambitious man and
later became a senior customs official
His mother, Klara, had previously given birth to two
other children by Alois, (Gustav and Ida) but they
both died in their infancy
 Adolf was the fourth child of
Klara Hitler, but the first of only
two to live to adulthood. Klara's
first three losses made her
extremely anxious about the frail
and small child
 Hitler would grow up to worship
 By all accounts, though she was
his mother as the finest woman
kind, loving, and indulgent to all he'd ever known, keeping her
the children in her care, Adolf picture always at his bedside.
was her special child. He could
do no wrong in her eyes.
 Psychologist/Historians are wont
to point out that Klara Hitler, by
praising, rewarding and
protecting the lad whether he
was good or bad, failed to teach
him the difference between the
two
Alois, on the other hand,
showed little favoritism; he
was domineering and
demanding to everyone in
the household without
exception
As is usual with self-made
men, he worshiped his
creator. He'd made his way
in the world through the
civil-service, and naturally
assumed that his son's
would also
Psychologist/Historians are
wont to point out that Alois
Hitler, by beating, berating,
Hitler did extremely well
at primary school and it
appeared he had a bright
academic future in front
of him. of the class was to stop
trying
He was also popular with
other pupils and was His father was furious as
much admired for his he had high hopes that
leadership qualities Hitler would follow his
example and join the
Competition was much Austrian civil service
tougher in the larger when he left school.
secondary school and his
reaction to not being top
At the age of fifteen he did so badly in his examinations
that he was told he would have to repeat the whole year's
work again.
Hitler managed to persuade his mother to allow him to
leave school without a secondary education qualification
Hitler had a high opinion of his artistic abilities and was
shattered when the Vienna Academy of Art rejected his
application and also applied at the Vienna School of
Architecture but was not admitted because he did not
have a school leaving certificate at age 18.
In 1907 Klara Hitler died from cancer, As the eldest
child, Hitler now received his father's civil service
pension. It was more money than many people received
in wages and meant that Hitler did not have to find
employment