Germany: Adolf Hitler
On April 20, 1889, Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria. Hitler’s parents were named Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. In his early childhood, Hitler’s family moved to Germany. As the fourth of six children, Hitler did not get along well with his father. He suffered two deaths in the family during his early life. First, Hitler’s brother, Edmund, died at a young age. A few years later, Hitler’s father died and Hitler dropped out of school (“Adolf Hitler”).
After moving to find work and build a life, Hitler applied to art school twice. He was rejected twice. After the beginning of World War I, Hitler applied to join the army and was accepted. For his efforts in the war he received honors for his bravery. In 1919, Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party. After his rise to popularity as a well-known speaker, Hitler became the President of the German Worker’s Party which was renamed later to National German Worker’s Party (“Adolf Hitler”).
After spending a year in prison for attempting a failed revolution and writing his book Mein Kompf, Hitler’s rise to power continued. After running for president and losing the election, he was appointed chancellor by the current president who had beat him in the election. Later, the position of chancellor and president would be combined and Hitler would assume this position of dictator (“Adolf Hitler”).
Hitler began to build up the army after his rise to complete power. Germany also withdrew from the League of Nations. Around this time, Hitler also instituted non-smoking campaigns nationwide. He also sought to eliminate certain races and people that he considered unclean. This view would lead to his Final Solution of killing these “undesirables” off through the use of concentration camps. Hitler’s quest for power would continue when he signed the Munich Pact, which would return the Sudetenland district to Germany. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and in return, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany (“Adolf Hitler”).
1940 brought Hitler’s invasion of Scandinavia, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In 1941, Hitler disregarded the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and attempted to conquer the Soviet Union, but was eventually stopped (“Adolf Hitler”).
Now at war with some of the strongest nations in the world, the outlook of the war was not looking in favor of Axis Powers. Hitler then married his girlfriend, Eva Braun, on April 29, 1945. The next day, both of them committed suicide and their bodies were later burned. Soon after, Berlin was conquered and Germany was forced to surrender to the Allies (“Adolf Hitler”).
By: SJL
After moving to find work and build a life, Hitler applied to art school twice. He was rejected twice. After the beginning of World War I, Hitler applied to join the army and was accepted. For his efforts in the war he received honors for his bravery. In 1919, Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party. After his rise to popularity as a well-known speaker, Hitler became the President of the German Worker’s Party which was renamed later to National German Worker’s Party (“Adolf Hitler”).
After spending a year in prison for attempting a failed revolution and writing his book Mein Kompf, Hitler’s rise to power continued. After running for president and losing the election, he was appointed chancellor by the current president who had beat him in the election. Later, the position of chancellor and president would be combined and Hitler would assume this position of dictator (“Adolf Hitler”).
Hitler began to build up the army after his rise to complete power. Germany also withdrew from the League of Nations. Around this time, Hitler also instituted non-smoking campaigns nationwide. He also sought to eliminate certain races and people that he considered unclean. This view would lead to his Final Solution of killing these “undesirables” off through the use of concentration camps. Hitler’s quest for power would continue when he signed the Munich Pact, which would return the Sudetenland district to Germany. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and in return, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany (“Adolf Hitler”).
1940 brought Hitler’s invasion of Scandinavia, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In 1941, Hitler disregarded the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and attempted to conquer the Soviet Union, but was eventually stopped (“Adolf Hitler”).
Now at war with some of the strongest nations in the world, the outlook of the war was not looking in favor of Axis Powers. Hitler then married his girlfriend, Eva Braun, on April 29, 1945. The next day, both of them committed suicide and their bodies were later burned. Soon after, Berlin was conquered and Germany was forced to surrender to the Allies (“Adolf Hitler”).
By: SJL
Japan: Emperor Hirohito
On April 29, 1901, Hirohito was born in Aoyama Palace in Tokyo. He was the first son born to Crown Prince Yoshihito. As custom had it, Hirohito was raised not by his parents, but by people appointed to take care of him. He went to a good school during his childhood and early adulthood. In his early 20s, Hirohito assumed the duties of emperor to aid his dying father. He officially became emperor on December of 1926 when his father died (“Hirohito”).
Conflict with China occurred during his reign, and soon after, the Japanese attack the Chinese in an infamous massacre that would later become known as the Rape of Nanking. In September of 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Act with Germany and Italy, promising to aid these countries in case of attack from other countries. The United States joined forces against the Axis Powers after Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in an effort to clear the Pacific Theatre of American forces and gain access to much needed natural resources (“Hirohito”).
When the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese, they finally surrendered, ending the war. Years later, after ruling for 64 years, Hirohito finally died on January 7, 1989 (“Hirohito”).
By: SJL
Conflict with China occurred during his reign, and soon after, the Japanese attack the Chinese in an infamous massacre that would later become known as the Rape of Nanking. In September of 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Act with Germany and Italy, promising to aid these countries in case of attack from other countries. The United States joined forces against the Axis Powers after Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in an effort to clear the Pacific Theatre of American forces and gain access to much needed natural resources (“Hirohito”).
When the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese, they finally surrendered, ending the war. Years later, after ruling for 64 years, Hirohito finally died on January 7, 1989 (“Hirohito”).
By: SJL
Italy: Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was born on June 29, 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Flori, Italy. Mussolini was a smart boy with a father passionate for the socialist party. Mussolini also had an affinity for politics and a disrespect for authority. In 1902, determined to spread socialism, Mussolini moved to Switzerland. He soon angered the current leaders and was kicked out of the country. He then became a newspaper editor back in Italy which helped him to spread his ideas (“Benito Mussolini”).
Soon after World War I started, Mussolini enrolled and after making his way up the ranks to colonel was wounded and discharged from the army. After the end of the war, Mussolini formed his own political group, the Fascist Party. With the help of his group known as the “Black Shirts,” under order to terrorize in order to increase Fascist support, Mussolini eventually reached his goal of mass chaos in Italy. He claimed that the only way to restore order was to allow him to lead the country. He soon got his way (“Benito Mussolini”).
After sending his army to invade Ethiopia and capturing their capital, as well as aiding the Spanish in their civil war, Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany, sought to make Italy an ally. The “Pact of Steel” was signed by both countries in 1939 (“Benito Mussolini”).
During World War II, Italy fought in conjunction with the Axis Powers. The war is fought long and hard with the war looking in the favor of the Axis nations at the end of 1940. The tides were later turned when the Soviet Union and the United States joined the Allies (“Benito Mussolini”).
The war was coming to an end, but not quite over. Just before the end of the Second World War, on April 28, 1945, Benito Mussolini breathed his last breath as he was executed by Italian citizens in Mezzegra, Italy (“Benito Mussolini”).
By: SJL
Soon after World War I started, Mussolini enrolled and after making his way up the ranks to colonel was wounded and discharged from the army. After the end of the war, Mussolini formed his own political group, the Fascist Party. With the help of his group known as the “Black Shirts,” under order to terrorize in order to increase Fascist support, Mussolini eventually reached his goal of mass chaos in Italy. He claimed that the only way to restore order was to allow him to lead the country. He soon got his way (“Benito Mussolini”).
After sending his army to invade Ethiopia and capturing their capital, as well as aiding the Spanish in their civil war, Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany, sought to make Italy an ally. The “Pact of Steel” was signed by both countries in 1939 (“Benito Mussolini”).
During World War II, Italy fought in conjunction with the Axis Powers. The war is fought long and hard with the war looking in the favor of the Axis nations at the end of 1940. The tides were later turned when the Soviet Union and the United States joined the Allies (“Benito Mussolini”).
The war was coming to an end, but not quite over. Just before the end of the Second World War, on April 28, 1945, Benito Mussolini breathed his last breath as he was executed by Italian citizens in Mezzegra, Italy (“Benito Mussolini”).
By: SJL