Question

What is regarded as Hitler's historic blunder?
A) The attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 was a historic blunder by Hitler
B) Attacking Poland in 1939
C) Allying with Japan
D) All the above

Answer 1

Hint: Adolf Hitler was a German politician of Austrian origin who ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. As the leader of the Nazi Party, he rose to power, first as Chancellor in 1933 and then as Führer und Reichskanzler in 1934.

Complete answer:
Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany began in September 1919, when he joined the political party known at the time as the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei – DAP (German Workers' Party). In 1920, the name was changed to Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei – NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party, colloquially known as the Nazi Party).

It advocated extreme nationalism and Pan-Germanism, as well as virulent anti-Semitism, and was anti-Marxist and opposed the democratic postwar government of the Weimar Republic and the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler came to power in March 1933, after the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act of 1933, which granted him greater authority.

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 was a historic blunder by Hitler: Hitler was a man of great ambition. He desired to accomplish his long-term goal of conquering Eastern Europe. To achieve this goal, he launched an attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941. Hitler's decision proved to be a historic blunder. By taking this step, he exposed the German western front to British aerial bombing and the Soviet Union's eastern front to Soviet bombing. The Red Army of the Soviet Union pursued the retreating German soldiers until they reached the heart of Berlin. This incident established Soviet hegemony over Eastern Europe for the next half-century.

Option B) Attacking Poland in 1939: On September 1, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. The Nazis justified the invasion by claiming that Poland had planned an invasion of Germany and spreading false reports that Poles were persecuting ethnic Germans. On September 17, the Soviet Union allied with Germany and invaded Poland. This is not regarded as Hitler's historic blunder.

Option C) Allying with Japan: In December 1940, three months after Japan, Germany, and Italy signed their World War II alliance known as the “Tripartite Pact,” a convoy of Japanese military leaders traveled to Berlin to learn from their new allies. Yamashita was presented to Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, in Germany. Each had his or her own goal for the meeting. Hitler hoped to persuade the Japanese military to declare war on Britain and the United States. This is not regarded as Hitler's historic blunder.

Option D) All of the above: This is not an Option because options B and D are incorrect.

Thus, the answer is Option ‘A’ i.e, Attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 was a historic blunder by Hitler.

Note: A Swedish legislator nominated Hitler for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1939. Even though he meant it as a joke, few found it amusing. Instead, it sparked outrage, and the nomination was swiftly withdrawn. Hitler would not have wanted or been able to accept the award. In 1936, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to German journalist Carl von Ossietzky, a vocal opponent of Hitler.