The reign of Adolf Hitler over Germany during World War II was one of the most devastating and oppressive dictatorships in modern history.
As the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, commonly referred to as the Nazi party, Hitler’s regime was responsible for the deaths of millions of people. While the exact number of people killed as a result of Hitler’s oppressive rule remains unknown, estimates range from 11 to 17 million people.
Victims of the Holocaust
The Holocaust, which began in 1933 when Hitler came to power, has become synonymous with Nazi Germany’s atrocities against Jews and other minority groups. It’s one of the most widely recognized crimes against humanity and is mainly associated with Jewish victims. Countless Jewish men, women, and children were subjected to either forced labor, incarceration, or death. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, an estimated 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
Victims of other minority groups
In addition to Jews, Hitler and his regime targeted numerous other minority groups. Political opponents, the mentally and physically disabled, LGBTQ people, and Romani (Gypsy) travelers were among those targeted. Hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war, primarily from Poland, Russia, and western Europe, who were deemed inferior to German soldiers were also persecuted and often killed.
Victims of war
In addition to those persecuted for religious and/or racial reasons, many people lost their lives during the war. Czechoslovakian and French civilians were among those who lost their lives during the Nazi occupation. Allied soldiers also were killed in battle or sent to prison and labor camps. Estimates of the number of soldiers who died, both Allied and Axis, range from 14 million to 17 million.
Summary of Estimated Number of People
Killed by Hitler
In summary, the total number of people killed by Hitler and his regime is estimated to be between 11 and 17 million people. The majority of these victims were Jews who were killed during the Holocaust and estimates suggest that 6 million people, which is almost two-thirds of the Jewish population in Europe, were murdered by Nazi Germany. In addition, several other minority groups, as well as soldiers of both Allied and Axis countries during World War II, were killed by Hitler’s regime.
The total number of people killed by Adolf Hitler will never be accurately known. Estimates suggest that between 11 and 17 million people were killed by Hitler and his regime, with 6 million of those killed being Jews during the Holocaust. Several other minority groups were also victims, as well as soldiers of both Allied and Axis countries during World War II. Hitler’s reign of terror shattered the lives of millions of people and left a permanent mark on history.
