The rise of Hitler

Seventy-five years ago Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, the beginning of what was to be a period of history that would forever change the world. We bring you a selection of images of the diabolical dictator…

After Adolf Hitler was made Chancellor in January 1933, he suspended theconstitution, silenced opposition, successfully exploited the burning of the Reichstag (Parliament) building, and brought the Nazi Party to power. From 1938, Hitler, as chief of the Wehrmacht (German Army), launched the conquest of the "vital space" for "Greater Germany" and annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938, and Poland in 1939, which started World War II.

Hitler visited Czechoslovakia after Nazi troops occupied the Sudetenland a day after the 29-30 September 1938 signature of the Munich Agreement between Hitler, France's Daladier and the UK's Chamberlain, which authorised Hitler to annex the Czech territory of the Sudetenland into Germany. Germany finally invaded Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939.

Undated photo of Adolf Hitler addressing his troops.

A picture dated 1936 showing German chancellor Adolf Hitler leaving the Nuremberg Party Congress.

Adolf Hitler gives a speech under a banner reads "ein Volk, ein Reich, ein F'hrer". From 1938, Hitler launched the conquest of the "vital space" for "Greater Germany".

Adolf Hitler gives a Nazi salute to the crowd from a balcony with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop (L), Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano (2nd L), Commander of the Luftwaffe Hermann Goering (2nd R) and Italian General Pariani (R).

German chancellor Adolf Hitler gives the infamous Nazi salute during the opening ceremony of the Berlin Olympics, 1 August 1936.

German Nazi chancellor Adolf Hitler receives a standing ovation from theReichstag and members of parliament for the "Anschluss" with Austria, the "peaceful" acquisition of Austria in March 1938.

Undated picture of Adolf Hitler saluting a crowd.

This file photo taken in June 1940 in Munich shows Adolf Hitler riding in a car with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini during World War II.

Hitler and Eva Braun.

Adolf Hitler at his eastern headquarters with his Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop.

A picture taken somewhere in Germany dated 1937 shows Adolf Hitler shaking hands with small children clad in traditional costumes.

An undated archive picture of Adolf Hitler with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Hitler and Chamberlain first met in Berchtesgaden on 15 September 1938 and then in Godesberg on 22 September 1938. Chamberlain, France's Edouard Daladier, Italy's Mussolini and Hitler finally met in Munich on 30 September 1938 where they signed the Munich Agreement which permitted German annexation of the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia.

A map depicting Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.