Adolf Hitler went down in history as the man who unleashed the Second World War. As a personality, the future founder and central figure of National Socialism, the founder of the totalitarian dictatorship of the Third Reich and the Fuhrer of Germany, was largely formed during the First World War.
What was the war of Adolf Hitler at a time when he was not the supreme commander, but one of the many soldiers of the First World War?
Adolf before the First World War
Having failed in the first round to the Vienna Academy of Arts, Adolf Hitler took up what we today call "mowing off the army": he changed addresses, moved from place to place, in every possible way avoiding conscription into the Austrian army. He was unwilling to serve alongside Jews, Czechs, and other nationalities, whom he would later declare to be "subhuman." In May 1913, Hitler moved from Vienna to Munich. He earned money by selling his paintings and making custom-made signs and posters. The Austrian police, meanwhile, were looking for him as a "dodger". In the end, he even had to undergo an examination in Salzburg, and the commission recognized the future Fuhrer as unfit for military service.
Adolf - Volunteer
When the First World War began, Hitler was 25 years old. In his own words, he was very glad to hear about the beginning of the war. He immediately applied to the king of Bavaria with a request to serve in the Bavarian army, and in response received an invitation to appear in any Bavarian regiment. Hitler began his service in the 6th reserve battalion of the 2nd Bavarian infantry regiment No. 16, which consisted of volunteers. On October 8, Hitler swore allegiance to the King of Bavaria and Emperor Franz Joseph.
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Adolf at war
Adolf Hitler began the war on the Western Front in October 1914. Participated in the Battle of Ysere and in the battles of Ypres. He fought, apparently, very well, since on November 1, 1914, he was awarded the rank of corporal. Hitler was transferred as a liaison to the regiment headquarters.
In 1914, Corporal Hitler took part in positional battles in French Flanders, in 1915 - fought at Nav Chapelle and Arras, in 1916 - in the Battle of the Somme. Was injured. From the hospital he returned to his regiment. In 1917 - again Flanders and Upper Alsace, battles at Arras, Artois. In 1918, Hitler took part in the spring offensive in France, in the battles of Soissons and Reims, on the Marne and in Champagne. Distinguished himself in delivering reports to artillery positions in very difficult conditions and saved the German infantry from shelling by their own artillery. On October 15, 1918, near La Montaigne, he was gassed. As a result of severe damage to the nervous system, he temporarily lost his sight. He was treated first in a field hospital, and then in the psychiatric ward of the Prussian rear infirmary in Lazewalka. It is here, in the hospital,Adolf Hitler learned about the surrender of Germany and the overthrow of the Kaiser. According to his own recollections, the news of the surrender was for Hitler the hardest shock in his life.
Adolph's awards
As a soldier, Corporal Hitler was, apparently, brave. In December 1914, he was awarded the 2nd Class Iron Cross. In September 1917 - the III Degree Cross with Swords for Military Merit. In May 1918 he received a regimental diploma for outstanding bravery, and then - a distinction for wounds. In July 1918, Hitler was awarded the 1st degree Iron Cross.
Battle comrades about Adolf
According to numerous testimonies, Corporal Hitler fought bravely and skillfully. A colleague of Hitler's in the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment by the name of Meyer, recalling Hitler's bravery, also recalls the testimony of their other colleague, Schleehuber. He characterized Hitler as "a good soldier and an impeccable comrade." According to Schleehuber, he never saw Hitler "in any way uncomfortable from service or evade danger," nor did he hear "anything negative" about him during his time in the division.
All this is another confirmation of a simple fact: a track record in itself does not say absolutely anything about a person.