Editing Adolf Hitler (section)

=== Rise to power ===
After World War I, Hitler returned to Munich and joined the [[German Workers' Party]] (the predecessor of the Nazi Party). He met [[Dietrich Eckart]], who became his political mentor. Hitler quickly rose through the party's ranks and became leader in July 1921. Shortly afterwards, the German Workers' Party became known as the National Socialist German Workers' Party, better known as the Nazi Party. Early members of Hitler's inner circle would include [[Rudolf Hess]], [[Hermann Göring]], [[Ernst Röhm]], and [[Erich Ludendorff]].

Hitler tried a failed coup, the infamous [[Beer Hall Putsch]], in 1923. This was a one-way trip to prison for six months. During his stay, he wrote a book/rant/political treatise called ''Mein Kampf'' (“My Struggle” in English). This bought him publicity and revealed his true intentions and means to create a better Germany then the former Weimar Republic which was a very scary place to be living in. After being released from prison, Hitler helped turn the Nazi Party into a major political force in Germany. He made his first attempt at running for public office in 1932, running for President against Paul von Hindenburg. Though Hitler would come up short in this election, he won over support from many of Germany's most powerful industrialists.
[[File:Adolf Hitler's rise to power.png|thumb|left|Hitler giving a speech.|217x217px]]In 1926, The German government has a lot of influence from Hitler who became trade partners of [[wikipedia:Nationalist government|Nationalist China]] (led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]]) to industrialize China to help China defend itself against strong opponents, as Germany no longer had imperial goals on China.

On recommendation from several other politicians, Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Eventually, Hitler and the Nazis took full control of the German government by July 1933. Hitler declared himself ''Führer'' in 1934 and consolidated his power over Germany with the [[Night of the Long Knives]] shortly thereafter, giving way for the 11-year Nazi regime. He outlawed his competition, re-militarized Germany, and started [[World War II]] in Europe in a bid to control much of the world by military means.

In 1938, Hitler's government initiated plans for [[the Holocaust]]: a planned mass [[genocide]] of all Jews in Europe. In November 1938, a [[pogrom]] was carried out by the ''[[Sturmabteilung]]'' paramilitary and German civilians after German diplomat Ernst Vom Rath was assassinated by Polish Jewish teenager Herschel Grynszpan. Over 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed, with over 30,000 Jewish men being arrested and taken to concentration camps. The name ''[[Kristallnacht]]'' comes from the broken glass. Over 200 synagogues were ransacked in the riots.

One year later, the Nazis invaded Poland, officially kickstarting World War II. The invasion of Poland would be followed by a number of Nazi invasions and occupations all across Europe. He would also gain strong allies in [[Imperial Japan]] (lead by [[Emperor Hirohito]]) and Fascist Italy (lead by [[Benito Mussolini]]); the alliance between the three would become known as the [[Axis Powers]].