In a Munich beer hall, the stormy politics of post-war Germany swirled around Adolf Hitler, a charismatic orator and decorated war veteran. After a tumultuous party meeting, Hitler strong-armed his way to leadership of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, ousting Anton Drexler. With his newfound power, Hitler rebranded the party, introducing the swastika emblem and "Heil Hitler" salute. This marked the beginning of Hitler's totalitarian grip on Germany, foreshadowing a dark era of war, genocide, and global devastation.