A brief background on Hitler and his rise to power

Adolf Hitler is an obvious association with the Nazi Party. It is interesting to note that Hitler was not even German born and was originally from Austria, yet by 1921 Hitler was the leader for Germany’s Nazi Party.

Hitler initially wanted to be an artist and applied and was rejected by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Hitler eventually moved to Munich which also served a purpose of avoiding Austria’s military service. Hitler “volunteered for war service in 1914 and joined a Bavarian regiment. Twice wounded, Hitler resented Germany's defeat, and explained it by reference to treachery. The traitors were the men of the left and the democrats who accepted the Versailles Treaty, forced on Germany by the Allies” (http://www.answers.com/hitler%27s%20bio).

With the Nazi Party in 1923 Hitler attempted a coup later known as the “Beer Hall Putsch” and was unsuccessful and was jailed. When in jail he wrote Mein Kampf which essentially was on German nationalism, and superiority as well as hatred of the Jews, Marxists and what Hitler felt was a need for a totalitarian state. Following the coup the Nazis were initially banned and with careful maneuver Hitler took a large role in getting the party un-banned. Initially the Nazi party did not have a great deal of success in the Reichstag (German parliament); only 2.6% in 1928 but rose rapidly and by 1933, they reached 43.9%. They were the largest party in the Reichstag. Political support came with the belief that Hitler and the Nazis helped create a prosperous Germany which was especially impressive following World War I and the harsh reparations Germany received.

Hitler was then appointed as Chancellor and sworn in January 1933. While Chancellor Hitler was able to control the Reichstag and prevented opponents to gain a majority and even went as far to persuade the President at the time to dissolve parliament and the building was set on fire that following February. Hitler blamed the fire on communists and went and suppressed communist parties. Because of suppression to political opposition political parties other than the Nazis were dissolved and the Nazis were declared to be the only legal party in Germany by July.
Paul von Hindenburg, the President prior to Hitler died the summer of 1934 and Hitler was able to become head of state without any presidential election because Hitler’s cabinet passed a law where it would transfer power. Hitler became the head of state and which included the duty of the commander of armed forces.
I feel it is important to understand Hitler’s background and though we might never understand his motives completely it gives us some understanding.

Sources: Wikipedia @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_hitler
Answers.com @ http://www.answers.com/hitler%27s%20bio