Njpa t,rAdolf Hitler, (1889-1945), Was a German political and government leader and one of the 20th century's most powerful dictators, who converted Germany into a fully militarized society and launched World War II in 1939. Making anti-Semitism a keystone of his propaganda and policies, he built the Nazi party into a mass movement. For a time he dominated most of Europe and North Africa. He caused the slaughter of millions of Jews and other people whom he considered inferior. Early Years - Hitler was born in Braunau , Austria, the son of a minor customs official and a peasant girl. A poor student, he never completed high school. He applied for admissi