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How Is Adolf Hitler Anti-Semitic

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Different circumstances in an individual’s life shape the views they adopt, however most individuals do not adopt extremely anti-semitic views and become dictators who enact genocide. Hitler’s anti-semitic views consisted of his belief that the entire Jewish race was inferior, and the solution “was to banish the Jews from society” (“Why did Hitler Hate Jews” 1). Along with the instances of anti-semitism, he witnessed in his youth and the influences of anti-semitic politicians, Hitler was easily influenced to become anti-semitic himself. Hitler’s distorted perception of the underlying root of Germany’s problems caused him to use the Jewish race as a scapegoat to blame. In the process, he killed millions of innocent people. Aspects of Hitler’s …show more content…

Hitler was the fourth of six children, yet four of his siblings ended up dying throughout his childhood. After the death of his younger brother, Edmund, “he became detached and introverted” (“Adolf Hitler Biography” 1). In addition to the great amount of trauma his siblings deaths caused him, Hitler’s father was very abusive. In a joint memoir by Hitler's half-brother, Alois, and half-sister, Angela, they described how Hitler’s father would beat Hitler and how his mother would protect him. They wrote, "Fearing that the father could no longer control himself in his unbridled rage, she [Adolf's mother] decides to put an end to the beating. She goes up to the attic, covers Adolf who is lying on the floor, but cannot deflect the father's final blow. Without a sound she absorbs it." (Diver 2). Hitler’s father's abusive behaviors reflected onto him, which was revealed in Paula Hitler’s journal, discovered in 2005. The journal explains how Hitler would beat her when she was around the age of 8 and he was 15. She wrote, “Once again I feel my brother's loose hand across my face” (Diver 1). Hitler not only displayed poor behavior at home, but in school as well. One of Hitler’s school teachers recalled this behavior, describing him as lacking in “self discipline, being notoriously cantankerous, wilful, arrogant, and bad-tempered.” (“Adolf Hitler …show more content…

During Hitler’s adolescence, Hitler’s mother allowed him drop out of school and move to Vienna. While he resided there, he applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice, yet was rejected both times. Hitler had no money left to support himself, and “he moved into a homeless shelter, where he remained for several years. Hitler later pointed to these years as the time when he first cultivated his anti-Semitism” (“Adolf Hitler Biography” 2). Hitler read many newspapers and political pamphlets at this time, where he “picked up bits and pieces of philosophy and ideas from them and wound up with a hodgepodge of racist, nationalistic, anti-Semitic attitudes that over time became a die-hard philosophy” (Gavin 2). Hitler’s poverty deeply influenced him and caused him to develop a “ harsh, survivalist mentality, which left little room for consideration of kindness and compassion” (Gavin 3). Furthermore, this mentality led Hitler to become ruthless in his tirade against the Jews. Hitler became more interested in politics while in Vienna, and began to involve himself in politics by attending protests. Hitler’s poor character traits aided him in the development of his anti-semitic views because he was quick to blame, had very strong beliefs, and believed the Jews must be

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