ce would soon come to his door bearing a draft notice from the Austrian government. The document threatened a year in prison and a fine if he was found guilty of leaving his native land with the intent of avoiding military service. Hitler was arrested on the spot and taken to the Austrian Consulate. Upon reporting to Salzburg for duty, he was found "unfit...too weak...and unable to bear arms."(Davidson 70-75) Hitler's passions against foreigners soon would grow. He got caught up in the patriotism of World War I, and enlisted in the Bavarian army. After less than two months of training, Hitler saw his first combat. Hitler narrowly escaped death in battle several times, and was eventually awarded two Iron Crosses for bravery. He rose to the rank of lance corporal but no further. But it is here where Hitler would learn the traits necessary for battle. Hitler would have to recover from injuries many times, and was actually temporarily blinded in battle. But after four years in the trenches, communist-inspired Jews weakened the stature of Germany. This would lead to the hatred of Jews among the Germans, and soon bring about Hitlers plan (Duffy 25-35). The nazi party was soon after established, and with the loss in the war, the German government was changing. A constitution was written providing for a President with broad political and military power. The loss of the war left the Germans unhappy, especially with the terms of the treaty. The terms of the treaty were humiliating to most Germans, and led to a rallying cry for those who like Hitler believed Germany was ultimately destined for greatness. Soon after the war, Hitler was recruited to join a military intelligence unit, and was assigned to keep tabs on the German Worker's Party. At the time, the party had only a handful of members. It was disorganized and had no program, but its members expressed the same views as Hitlers. Hitler saw this party as a way to reach his political b...
