Was Adolf Hitler America’s Most Dangerous Enemy in the Mid-Twentieth Century The term “fascism,” does not go back too far before World War II. Defined as an extreme political movement which prioritizes severe nationalism, militarism, and opposition execution under a single individual leader, it was first idolized by Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini right after World War I in 1919 when he formed the Nationalist Fascism Party with the intention of rebuilding Italy’s wealthy and power. In 1933, a failed German painter took over his nation as the new Chancellor immediately transforming Germany into a Fascist power as well. This man’s name was Adolf Hitler. He is widely recognized as the perpetrator of the 1930s-40s Holocaust, the conclusive cause …show more content…
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1890, in Brannau, Austria, to a German clerk father and Austrian peasant mother. After rejection from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts determined his failure as a dedicated artist, Germany’s World War I defeat was the perfect opportunity for Hitler to release the rage built up from his tough childhood and join the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party). After spending nine months in jail and publishing his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), by 1924, he would continue to further influence Germany with his remarkable manipulation and political actions. Hitler’s one-sided fascism dominated Germany as well as other parts of Europe very quickly. This was quite evident with Dorothy Thompson, a propagandist who when interviewed Hitler and criticized his plans, which caused her to be exiled from Germany, as mentioned, “She went back to Berlin in 1931 to interview Adolf Hitler for Cosmopolitan and …show more content…
What did not make matters any better would come the Tripartite Pact of 1940 between the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan). This pact raised conflicts higher since under it, as detailed, “The Germans and Italians also reiterated their commitment to assist Japan should it be attacked by the United States” (Baker). The United States had now become more than timid about joining in on a previously declared unnecessary war. The final and ultimate drive to their war effort would be the Bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This was especially distraught to witness by 11-year-old Jackie Smith, as manifested, “She thought she was witnessing a simulated dogfight between American aircraft, but then ‘all of a sudden flames were shooting up,’ and it ‘looked like the whole island was on fire’” (Tuttle 3). Witnessing the official cause for the U.S. to enter WWII, in comparison, is perhaps just as horrifying as being a prisoner of war under Japan, like former Olympian Louis Zamperini, who co-wrote his book and shared his absolutely incredible journey as from being a world champion to having to survive on water and being beaten nearly every day, becoming a favorite target for Corporal Mutushiro Watanabe, as written, “For Louie, the shared lessons about the Bird did no good. No sooner had Louie stepped outside than the