Read another story from us:Tests performed on Adolf Hitlers teeth, held by the Russians for 70 years, substantiate the timeline of his 1945 demise in Berlin. Hitler's circle of comrades also served at headquarters. The ill-fed 14-year-old boy walked all the way from Prague to his parent's farm-house in Goldenau which by then had become part of Poland. Hitler took his second leave from military service on 10 September 1918 for 18 days. There were many factors that led to Hitler's more widespread acceptance in Germany, from economic depression to the country's hatred of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. [A 6] Around this time the German military command released an edict that the army's main priority was to "carry out, in conjunction with the police, stricter surveillance of the population so that the ignition of any new unrest can be discovered and extinguished. It was there where Hitler learned of Germany's defeat. Next we'll be saying that Goering was never a fighter ace. Nobody is saying that Hitler was not brave, and no one is saying that he was on first name terms with the colonel, as some people seem to be suggesting. Almost every work on AH that I have read seems to make the point that the first class award to NCOs and other ranks was rare, clearly that may not be the case then in view of the fact that "It was supposed to be an award which made no distinction of social rank - the general and the grenadier both playing their parts in the outcome of battle". Thank you, and all who have added to the thread. I request that this guidance be given the most serious attention. Iron Cross 1st class (1957). Under Captain Mayr, "national thinking" courses were arranged at the Reichswehrlager Lechfeld near Augsburg,[36] with Hitler attending from 1019 July. Hitler received the Iron Cross Second Class for gallant conduct during the fighting at Wytschaete on 1 Dec. 1914. But Hitler's youngest hero stayed on. A German Gold Cross of Honour. The citation was probably merited, but many soldiers who were as brave as Hitler or more so were not awarded the EKI because they were not in the same position as he was, Weber's argument goes. Hitler's First Class Iron Cross was recommended by Lieutenant Hugo Gutmann, a Jewish adjutant in the List Regiment. 5 Was it true that the award was recommended by a Jewish offcer? On June 6, 1944, on what would come to be known as D-Day, the Western Allied armies landed in northern France. The group drank champagne, stuffed themselves with food and tried to dance to the only gramophone record they had left. [57][58], Six days after being sworn in as Chancellor in 1933, Hitler met with the German military leaders, declaring that his first priority was rearmament. Too bad nobody mentioned mexico. According to Weber, Hitler was awarded the EKII not for any particular act of bravery but because his position as a despatch runner at regimental headquarters (he was not a frontline soldier for most of the war, as he tried to make out) meant he could cosy up to influential officers. It was supposed to be an award which made no distinction of social rank - the general and the grenadier both playing their parts in the outcome of battle. [74] In the final months of the war Hitler refused to consider peace negotiations, regarding the destruction of Germany as preferable to surrender. Sassy on February 26, 2023 at 1:17 am said: - SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - FUNNY and TRUE. Shirer states that Hitler had attracted the attention of a right-wing university professor who was engaged to educate enlisted men in "proper" political belief, and that the professor's recommendation to an officer resulted in Hitler's advancement. Fewer messages went by foot or bicycle and more by telephone. Founded in 1247, it is Europe's first and oldest mental health hospital. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. If they have their way, it will end with them. Also, as to cosying up to officers, in the German army at the time officers hardly spoke to soldiers who were not senior NCO's. dailyinfo[7]=' Lieutenant Thomas Sydney Ough DEALY Australian Flying Corps who died 07/03/1918 STONYHURST COLLEGE BURIAL GROUND United Kingdom ' by Christian W. 29 Jan 2005, 14:34, Post WW1 ordnance mainly hand and rifle grenades. . He was obviously moved when I showed him the picture. In 1903 Hitlers tyrannical father died and his mother Klara was left alone to raise Adolf, along with his sister Paula and his half-siblings, Alois Jr. and Angela. Three months after the end of the war, his father's body was found with a bullet hole in the neck. He has directed me to send you his best thanks for your friendly gift which is so rich in memories. Do'nt worry too much about his Iron Crosses. The recipient of an EKI had to already have been awarded an EKII before he could be entitled to an EKI. [31] There he would stay until the camp dissolved January 1919. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHitler1999 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFKershaw2000 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFKershaw1998 (, Cross of Military Merit, Third Class with Swords, "World War I 1918 British soldier allegedly spares the life of an injured Adolf Hitler", "Michael Morpurgo on the soldier who could have stopped a world war with one shot", "Did British soldier spare Hitler's life in WWI? Despite the gravity of these times, I remain firmly convinced that we will achieve victory in this battle, and above all for Germany's youth and you, my boys.". Lest anyone think I glorify AH, my late uncle was captured by the SS Leibstandarte, Hitler's bodyguard regiment, at Vevi in Greece. dailyinfo[17]=' PLY/3566 Private Samuel ROBINSON H.M.S. This included the complete destruction of all German industry, communications, agriculture, mines, food stuffs, railways, ships, roads, bridges, stores, shops and utility plants. By all accounts he was eager to volunteer for difficult jobs and did them conscientiously. sorry, my mistake, I got them the wrong way round. Alfred Czech saw nothing of the party. By that year's end, the army had more than 1 million men and 25,000 officers. NEWMAGICFOR THE NEWAGE Daring to challenge old stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding magical practice, New Millenni. [46], Hitler apparently saw a newspaper report about Tandey being awarded the Victoria Cross (in October 1918, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment), recognized him, and clipped the article. On a recommendation by Lieutenant Hugo Gutmann, Hitler's Jewish superior, he also received the Iron Cross, First Class on 4 August 1918. Nowadays he lives off his pension and is the father of 10 children and grandfather to no less than 20 grandchildren. He called the day he was given the medal, "the greatest day of my life." In all Hitler won six medals for bravery. Again according to Weber, the fact that Gutmann was Jewish was irrelevant at the time as Hitler's extreme anti-Semitism had not developed at the time. The EKII was the lesser award and was worn as a medal ribbon on the uniform. [72] Hitler deepened his involvement in the war effort by appointing himself commander-in-chief of the German Army (Heer) in December 1941; thus taking a direct operational posting usually held by a full German general. dailyinfo[22]=' 25368 Quartermaster Serjeant Leonard Henry CADE Meritorious Service Medal 12th Coy. I. dailyinfo[21]=' L/32287 Driver John Frampton GAZE "O" Bty. I'd like to see his evidence. Hugo Gutmann lived and worked in St. Louis, Missouri as a typewriter salesman. The Fhrer is naturally very interested in things connected with his own war experiences, and he was obviously moved when I showed him the photograph and explained the thought which you had in causing it to be sent to him. From iron cross, Hugo boss uniform, blitzkrieg, u-boat wolfpack, MG42, Stg44, Tiger Tank, to Bismarck battleship, all is legendary and cool. It would be rather rare for a private or even a corporal to be able to have long chats with senior officers. Hitler was too infirm to pin the Iron Crosses on the boys' tunics himself. After World War II, the medal was discontinued but neo-Nazis and other white supremacists subsequently adopted it as a hate symbol and it has been a commonly-used hate symbol ever since. His rival Erhard Auer was also wounded in an attack. According to his own version of events, he fought bravely in the war and was in constant danger every day, though, some records contradict these claims. war, both became pioneering test pilots and were awarded the Iron Cross for service to the Third Reich. A cross-checking o f Ibn Ghannam's and Ibn Bishr's data with reports by Europeans confirms their authenticity. (Salonika) Territorial Force Nursing Service who died 01/03/1918 KNOWLE (SS. [54] William was related to Tandey's wife Edith. Photo by Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F051673-0059 / CC-BY-SA. 17 Feb 2005, 04:18, Post i also had to give back his teeth. Alfred Czech was then in the Jungvolk, a movement set up in 1936 for the offspring of Nazi party members who were too young to join the Hitler Youth movement. After ordering the preparations for the attack on Poland, he scrutinised all the staff prepared for the first three days of operations down to the regimental level. Munich, then part of the People's State of Bavaria, was in a state of chaos with a number of assassinations occurring, including that of socialist Kurt Eisner[A 5] who was shot dead in Munich by a German nationalist on 21 February 1919. dailyinfo[16]=' 22659 Serjeant George SNELL Military Medal "T" Bty. var dailyinfo= new Array(31) On March 19, 1945, he ordered a massive scorched-earth campaign throughout Germany so that absolutely nothing of value would be left for the victors. Blomberg's decree on the army and National Socialism on 25 May 1934 ordered: "When non-commissioned officers and men take part in any festivity, care must be taken that the officers do not all sit together. He arrived in a city in which the ground shook because of the constant Russian heavy artillery bombardment 20 miles to the east. I think you may be confusing EKI and EKII. [9] By December, Hitler's own company of 250 was reduced to 42. Think the difference was that the EKII was worn on the uniform while the EKI was worn round the neck, though I don't recall any pictures of Hitler wearing it anywhere but on his uniform after he came to power. Patients were subject to horrible medical practices throughout the psychiatric hospital's history. by Douglas 5 17 Feb 2005, 14:50, Post On 15 October 1918, he was temporarily blinded in a mustard gas attack and hospitalised in Pasewalk. The Grand Cross was the highest medal Nazi German could bestow on a foreigner and Ford would be the only American to receive the award. Yet Alfred Czech felt that he had little choice but to stay on. It sits, neatly framed, above a budgerigar cage in his living-room. Captain Weidemann, Hitler's adjutant, wrote the following response: I beg to acknowledge your friendly gift which has been sent to Berlin through the good offices of Dr. Schwend. He was taken away for emergency training in the use of rifles and Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons, some bigger than himself. In 1938, when Germany annexed Austria, Dr. Bloch wrote a letter to Hitler asking for his help during the wave of brutal anti-Semitism that followed the annexation. In July 1938 before the outbreak of World War II, German diplomats awarded Ford the Grand Cross of the German Eagle. [22], During the Battle of the Somme in October 1916 Hitler received a wound in his left thigh when a shell exploded at the entrance to the dispatch runners' dugout. these high-ranking slaves claimed and sometimes even seized power, as happened, for example, in Riyadh in the first half of the . The attending physician was Eduard Bloch, who did everything that the medicine of the time, and that was available, permitted. He told the parents to get their son ready for a trip to Berlin. Fascination with Hitler, no. Given that he is . In 1938, when Neville Chamberlain visited Hitler at his alpine retreat, the Berghof, for the discussions that led to the Munich Agreement, he noticed the painting and asked about it. But, he added: "I got the soldiers away from enemy fire more out of a sense of duty to my fellow men. In later years, Bloch stated that Hitler was not a sickly child, but he was also not the epitome of health. It was beginning to look as if no one could prevent the destruction of the Universe. Use of the decoration was revived by William I for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, recreated in 1914 for World War I, and last revived by Adolf Hitler on Sept. 1, 1939, the same day that German forces invaded Poland. dailyinfo[27]=' 5778 Private William CUMMINGS 6th Bn. By all accounts, Hitler was a good soldier, and he found happiness in both the experience of army life and war. During the 1930s, the Nazi regime in Germany superimposed a swastika on the traditional medal, turning it into a Nazi symbol. He stated that his impression of Hitler was of a boy who lived within himself a dreamer. but not whilst the man was in the field though? It's a bit like saying an AC1 at Bentley Priory could chat to Dowding and influence him - flying pig stuff! General Alfred Jodl wrote that Hitler's "astounding technical and tactical vision led him also to become the creator of modern weaponry for the army". http://www.historyextra.com/oup/new-evidence-uncovers-hitlers-real-first-world-war-story. German soldiers who had been awarded the Iron Cross. The EK2 has a top ring, from which it's suspended from a ribbon. [27] While there, on 10 November, Hitler learned of Germany's defeat from a pastor, andby his own accounton receiving this news he suffered a second bout of blindness. Whenever communications have been totally disrupted at a critical moment in a battle, it has been thanks to Hitler's unflagging and devoted efforts that important messages have continued to get through despite every difficulty. Hitler was ordered the EKII first. // Stop Define Variables for days of the month moment in a battle, it has been thanks to Hitler's unflagging and devoted efforts that important messages have continued to get through despite every difficulty. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN France ' dailyinfo[5]=' 12147 Private Harry COOK 8th Bn. Sadly, however many of Blochs extended family were killed during the war. Also, as to cosying up to officers, in the German army at the time officers hardly spoke to soldiers who were not senior NCO's. Sixty years on, Alfred Czech has no regrets about his part in the war. So, to recap. Weber concludes that Hitler, who worked for a leftist government after the war, became violently nationalist and antisemitic after Germany's postwar and post-revolutionary economic and. Two broken down tanks on the Menin Road sprayed them with continuous machine gun fire. Weber does not contend that Hitler wasn't brave, and risked his life at times, but he does contest Hitler's claim that his job was the most dangerous. He lowered his rifle, Hitler nodded in thanks, and made his way back to his line. 4 Was there any visible difference between an Iron Cross First and Second Class. Thats quite funny guys, but . lets not get too carried away here !!! [36] In this capacity as head of the intelligence department, Mayr recruited Hitler as an undercover agent in early June 1919. Schwend had been a medical officer during the First Battle of Ypres in 1914. 30 Jan 2005, 23:20, Post Portrait of Adolf Hitler. The famed statue of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid, which has sat in the Copenhagen harbour for 110 years, was defaced again this week with the red, white and blue of the Russian flag. The Jungvolk's members were aged 10 to 14. Runners were normally only used over long distances, eg. Still, it was not until years later, as he experienced the polyglot metropolis of Vienna, that his thoughts became more and more rabid, influenced by such people as Viennas anti-Semitic mayor, Karl Lueger. He's was my neighbour, now most of his stuff is on sale on ebay. document.write; [70] His status with the military escalated when they seized Norway and conquered Western Europe, with the major thrust coming through the Ardennes, which he had implemented despite the misgivings of many professional advisers. Royal Air Force who died 24/02/1919 LINCOLN (NEWPORT) CEMETERY United Kingdom ' 1915-02-12 Adolf Hitler receives the relatively common Iron Cross second class for bravery in World War I; 1916-10-05 Adolf Hitler is wounded in the left thigh by an exploding shell during the Battle of the Somme; 1918-08-04 Adolf Hitler receives the Iron Cross first class for bravery on the recommendation of his Jewish superior, Lieutenant . It is well-known that Hitlers mother doted on him, and that Hitler was absolutely devoted to his mother. He was not the frontline soldier that he claimed to be, according to Weber. Whatever your politics, for a Corporal in the Imperial Bavarian Army to be awarded a EK 1 was recognition of bravery. [35], In June 1919 he was moved to the demobilization office of the 2nd Infantry Regiment. In September 1941, a medical officer performed a deed so heroic he was awarded an Iron Cross by the German high command. Highland Light Infantry who died 19/03/1915 LE TOURET MEMORIAL France ' Thereafter, he was ordered to the depot in Munich. It was entitled, "Blood-red roses tell you of happiness". ", Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "[34] For his anti-communist views he was allowed to avoid discharge when his unit was disbanded in May 1919. In a fanatical, last-ditch attempt to hold back the Red Army's advance, the Nazi leadership had pitched not only boys like Alfred Czech into battle, but also seasoned First World War veterans to form a last line of resistance. But some Nazi diehards had raised red, black and white swastika flags to "celebrate" Hitler's birthday. This unit was responsible for numerous WW2 atrocities. They began at the Brgerbru Keller, a beer hall in the Bavarian city of Munich. 14th Bde. In that case the EKI citation must be fiction according to your view! In Vienna, where he had been living in relative poverty since 1907, Hitler received the final part of his father's estate in May 1913 and moved to Munich, where he earned money painting architectural scenes. Photo by Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1975-096-33A / CC-BY-SA 3.0. Nevertheless, he continued to believe that only his leadership could deliver victory. [56] This means that he was in Germany on the presumed date of the alleged event. In Central Asia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are at each other's throats, Kazakhstan is moving away from Russia and is moving closer to Europe, and there are EU peacekeepers and watch dogs in Nargorno-Karabakh because Russia is incapable of defending Trad Chistrian Armenians in their enclave or even Armenia proper. Background. [17] During the Battle of Fromelles on 1920 July 1916 the Australians, mounting their first attack in France, assaulted the Bavarian positions. Next we'll be saying that Goering was never a fighter ace. Weber refers to Hitler as 'Private Hitler' throughout'Hitler's First War': as a'Gefreiter' he was notan NCO, and not the equivalent ofa Corporal (Weber tells us). He managed to survive the rigours of a prisoner-of-war camp in what was then Czechoslovakia. Because of his Austrian citizenship, he had to request permission to serve in the Bavarian Army. He had been sent a copy of the painting by a Lieutenant Colonel Earle in 1936. deserves to be awarded the Iron Cross First Class. Bjrn from Norway In memoriam Posts: 1091 Joined: 29 Apr 2002, 21:38 Location: Bod, Northern Norway by Bjrn from Norway 29 Jan 2005, 15:34 Hitler had several copies. 18 Feb 2005, 03:02, Post "[68] He abolished the War Ministry and took Blomberg's other title, Commander-in-Chief, for himself. I think the suggestion was that in the relative intimacy of his base at regimental headquarters, where numbers were limited, Hitler was in a position to ingratiate himself with senior officers and draw himself to their attention. You can't deny 3rd reich is the fanciest looking WW2 belligerent. Hitler described him as a "proper circus dog". His home in the Silesian village of Goldenau, now in Poland, was on the front line. dailyinfo[31]=' 420628 Sapper William Bayne YOUNG 63rd Field Coy. Also, just to stress, I am critical of the slant of the article in http://www.historyextra.com/oup/new-evidence-uncovers-hitlers-real-first-world-war-story, not of the GWF poster who provided the link. By that time, Goldenau had already been taken by the Soviet troops. Rather, the cross on his T-shirt was the official emblem of Ukraine's armed forces. for a Corporal in the Imperial Bavarian Army to be awarded a EK 1 was recognition of bravery. On his first foray, he brought back eight wounded men. It's easy! The Nazis just happened to be in Germany and their soldiers were the German military. [77], After the end of the war, the only decorations Hitler regularly wore were the Wound Badge and First Class Iron Cross. A junk dealer sold him the one he uses nowadays to pose for "historical photos". They went with him to spain, as for what happened to them when he died in 1947???? LOVE, POVERTY, WAR AND Also by Christopher Hitchens BLOOD, CLASS AND EMPIRE: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship A LONG SHORT WAR: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq WHY ORWELL MATTERS LEFT HOOKS, RIGHT CROSSES: A Decade of Political Writing (edited with Christopher Caldwell) LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN THE TRIAL OF HENRY KISSINGER BLAMING THE VICTIMS: Spurious Scholarship and the . (In 1939, God was removed from the oath. 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Shortly thereafter, Bloch was miraculously able to sell his house for what it was actually worth (most of the Jews in Germany or Austria were paid peanuts for their homes people knew how desperate to sell they were), and emigrate to the United States, where he died just one month after the fall of the Third Reich. Adolf Hitler may not always have been an anti-Semite, or at least not the virulent one that emerged as he led the Nazi Party to power and afterward. [65]) The Reichswehr was reorganized as the Wehrmacht on 21 May 1935, bringing the army, navy and air force under unified command. Hitler was living in Munich, Germany when World War I broke out in 1914. He also said that he had no reason to believe that Hitlers relationship with his mother was anything but that of a loving son and that there was nothing pathological about the relationship. and more. With . I have recently read that it was second. Collecting the uniforms, arms, accoutrements and medals primarily of the Commonwealth countries from WW1, as well as being a member of the Great War living history group The Vickers Machine Gunners Society 1914-45. Biographer John Keegan claims that this experience drove Hitler to become aloof and withdrawn for the remaining years of war. "I didn't think it was insane to send children into battle. Gutmann fled Germany because he feared that the Nazis wanted him out of the way to keep his links with Hitler concealed. Bluecher German Navy who died 29/01/1915 CANNOCK CHASE GERMAN MILITARY CEMETERY United Kingdom ' by Mark in Cleveland, Tn. Later, at Gheluvelt for the 2nd time, they lost 800 men in 10 days in 1917 during Third Ypres. Gutmann put Hitler's name forward and this is the official citation: As a runner, his coolness and dash in both trench and open warfare have, been exemplary, and invariably he has shown himself ready to volunteer. In battle they often had to deliver messages when the barrages were heaviest and could not hide in funk hole. [19], At the Nuremberg Trials, two of his former superiors testified that Hitler had refused to be considered for promotion. [4] On the evidence of a report by the Bavarian authorities in 1924, which questioned how Hitler was allowed to serve in the Bavarian Army, Hitler almost certainly was enlisted through an error on the part of the government. Photo by Ron Moody CC BY SA 4.0. October 14 1918 October 14 Adolf Hitler wounded in British gas attack Among the German wounded in the Ypres Salient in Belgium on October 14, 1918, is Corporal Adolf Hitler, temporarily blinded. Gutmann was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class on December 2, 1914, incidentally the same day as Hitler - and the Iron Cross 1st class on December 4, 1915. The EK2 has a top ring, from which it's suspended from a ribbon. [25] Wiedemann arranged for Hitler's return to his regiment on 5 March 1917. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like According to the Nazi Creed, what group was the most superior?, According to the Nazi Creed, what group was the most inferior?, How did the Nazis believe they could "save the world"? Middlesex Regiment who died 25/02/1921 LADYWELL CEMETERY United Kingdom ' He later claimed that the 'mixture of races' in the Austro-Hungarian army was the reason behind his decision. Hitler appeared. var fontstart = '' Mainly, the period during World War I when Hitler served as a Gefreiter (lance corporal[A 1]) in the Bavarian Army, and the era of World War II when Hitler served as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) through his position as Fhrer of Nazi Germany. I had assumed that Hitlers award of the Iron Cross First Class was established. by Christian W. 29 Jan 2005, 18:03, Post [13] According to Thomas Weber, earlier historians of the period had not distinguished between regimental runners, who were based away from the front "in relative comfort", and company, or battalion runners, who moved among the trenches and were more often under fire. [16], On 15 October 1918, he and several comrades were temporarily blindedand according to Friedelind Wagner,[26] Hitler also lost his voicedue to a British mustard gas attack. Arab and European historians have only discovered these two sources in the twentieth century. July 30, 1938: Henry Ford Honored with Medal from Adolf Hitler Published by carolyn on Tue, 2012-07-31 05:39 From the Detroit Free Press: This week in Michigan History Henry Ford was awarded Nazi Germany's Grand Cross of the German Eagle on July 30, 1938, his 75th birthday. [18] The history of the List Regiment hailed this brilliant defense as the "personification of the German Army on the Western Front". Weren't you afraid when you rescued the soldiers?". As we know, Hitler had been awarded with Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class during WWI. [66] He hammered home arguments by reciting long passages from Frederick the Great and other military thinkers. Arriving on 21 November, he was assigned to 7th Company of the 1st Replacement Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment. According to testimony given by Hans Frank at the Nuremberg Trials, in 1945-46, he had heard from Hitler himself in 1930 about this Jewish ancestry. Regards, David. Founded in 1999. Disagree entirely. He wants to open up the eyes of those that will see that . This attempted coup d'tat came to be known as the Beer Hall Putsch.. He died in San Diego in 1962. for tasks in the most difficult situation and at great danger to himself. The military career of Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945, can be divided into two distinct portions of his life. The new design became the national flag on 15 September 1935 during the mass annual rally at Nuremberg. After the ceremony of award, only the ribbon was worn in a buttonhole, the medal itself being kept in its presentation case. They gave two reasons. The wording on the 1918 official citation are: "As a runner, his coolness and dash in both trench and open warfare have been exemplary, and invariably he has shown himself ready to volunteer for tasks in the most difficult situations and at great danger to himself. I think Weber has this wrong, but it makes a good story. [15] Hitler, though heartbroken by his loss, did take his first leave, which consisted of an 18-day visit to Berlin where he stayed with the family of a comrade. He was living in Munich at the outbreak of WWI and he joined the Bavarian Army as an Austrian . In his autobiography, written while he was in prison in Munich after an attempted overthrow of the Bavarian government, Hitler recounted his own war experiences, his motivations, and outlined what he thought the war meant for the Europe and the German people.
