Impotence and an Oedipus complex haunt the dictator as he sets out to conquer the world.

In the course of Adolf Hitler's rise to political power in Germany he courts his young niece, Geli Raubal, but he is rendered impotent because of her resemblance to his mother and is unable to consummate their love. When Geli realizes the truth, Hitler, overwhelmed by shame and anger, has her murdered. After becoming chancellor, Hitler arranges with Ernst Roehm the burning of the Reichstag, and he institutes his reign of terror. Roehm and his Brownshirts are purged as Hitler consolidates his power. Hitler then meets Eva Braun, who also reminds him of his mother, but she eventually succeeds in breaking down his guilt-inspired impotence and becomes his mistress. Seizing power after Hindenburg's death, Hitler and his Nazi regime sweep over Europe. When the tide is turned, however, he retires to an underground bunker, where, broken in mind and body, he is joined by Eva in a death pact. Now demented, he consents to a last-minute marriage, but at their moment of suicide he refuses to allow Eva to call herself Frau Hitler because only his mother had the right to that title. As the Allies enter Berlin, the bodies of Hitler and Eva are cremated.