Hitler's early career, 1919-20
World War One
Adolf Hitler fought in the German army during World War One. He was badly wounded twice and won two Iron Crosses for bravery. Germany鈥檚 surrender in November 1918 was a shock to him and had a profound effect on his political views. Like many other German people at the time, he felt they had been 鈥榮tabbed in the back鈥 by politicians:
- Many Germans hated the government for signing the An end to the fighting in a war. in November 1918 - and called them the 'November Criminals'. Some (including Hitler) believed they had been 鈥榮tabbed in the back.鈥
- People were led to believe that Jews in the army and government had encouraged the surrender.
- The German government also signed the The peace treaty signed by the Allies and Germany at the end of the First World War, on 28 June 1919., which blamed and punished Germany for starting the war.
The German Workers' Party and start of the Nazis
After the World War One, Hitler returned to Munich and became the leader of the German Worker鈥檚 Party (DAP), which later turned into the Nazi party:
- 1918 鈥 Hitler returns to Munich.
- 1919 鈥 Hitler joined the German Worker鈥檚 Party (DAP), a right-wing group led by Anton Drexler.
- 1920 鈥 Hitler became the Party鈥檚 leading public speaker and propagandist.
- 1920 鈥 The group changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) 鈥 or Nazis for short. Hitler designed the party鈥檚 distinctive Swastika emblem.
- 1921 鈥 Hitler was elected Party Chairman and leader of the Nazis.