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Hitler: Another One is Possible 2nd Place – Lauren Reed, Hershey Intermediate School

“I do not see why man should not be just as cruel as nature.” ~Adolf Hitler. Have you ever wondered about the life of Hitler? Or why he started World War Two? Many have also wondered: “Could another individual like Hitler emerge?“

On April 20, 1889, a baby was born to Alois and Klara Hitler. There was something different about this baby’s destiny, for when he would become an adult, he will have taken the lives of over eleven million people. He would be a significant architect of World War Two. He would have ultimate power over Germany. The loads of power just resting in his hands was too much. He was a dictator, referred to as a chancellor. He also formed the Nazi party. His hatred was directed to those he considered “undesirable” such as Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and many Christians who opposed him. These were the people he slaughtered.

The Chancellorship provided such a high quantity of power that he became unstoppable. Once he had his hands on the power, he went straight to his promise to German citizens: to rip up the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler then took over Austria and swore that it would be the end of his expansions. He broke his word six months later and demanded that Sudetenland be handed over to Germany. Only a short time later, the League of Nations could not act quickly enough to react to the Axis Powers. That was the starting point of World War Two.

Could we see another Hitler? Yes. Many of the behaviors of Hitler’s Nazi party are mirrored in the actions of religious extremists such as ISIS. The mimicked characteristics include prejudice based on religion, a willingness to invade other countries, and frequent killing of civilians. Another example is modern North Korea. Its opposition toward democracy, suppression of individuals’ liberty, frequent use of harsh punishment including execution without a legitimate trial, and use of excessive investment in the military are all similar to Nazi Germany. In addition, North Korea is led by a ruthless dictator, reminiscent of Hitler.

Hatred also is seen in contemporary democracies, even in the United States and Europe. Racism, sexism, and a lack of tolerance towards those with differing religious backgrounds are still seen.

Hitler was an individual who was responsible for the death of millions of people. While some suggest that another Hitler will never appear, there are numerous modern examples of behaviors quite similar to his. Thus, another Hitler certainly can occur. It is the responsibility of all nations and all people to be vigilant to protect the world from future Hitlers gaining power and causing more Holocausts and World Wars.

The reason I chose to study Adolf Hitler was because I wanted to conquer the challenge that most people would turn down. Instead of analyzing a hero, I examined a villain in order to learn from history so that we can prevent future mistakes. Also, I wanted to suggest that another Hitler is possible if we choose to ignore the past.

Bibliography

  • “Adolf Hitler.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2015. .
  • “Adolf Hitler.” Famous Faces from TIME: 52 Historic TIME Covers Reflecting the People Who Shaped the 20th Century; Includes Reading, Writing and Research Activities, plus an 8-page Teaching Guide. New York: Time, 2000. N. pag.
  • “Famous Quotes.” BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.
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