Summary
- Hydra's origins in WWII alongside the Red Skull and the Tesseract laid the foundation for their sinister infiltration.
- Despite setbacks, Hydra thrived with sleeper cells and brainwashed soldiers like the Winter Soldier in the shadows.
- Though largely defeated, Hydra's potential return in the Multiverse Saga or as a plot twist in future MCU projects remains possible.
Heroes are only as interesting as their villains, and Hydra has been a notable adversary group for the better part of a century in the MCU. While Nick Fury's Iron Man cameo laid the groundwork for S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, Hydra is a sinister mirror with a mysterious and powerful leader to match. Though the organization got its proper start in World War II, it proved to be a match for its mythological namesake by continuing to find a way to survive.
Though Hydra may technically still be active in the MCU timeline, their presence and influence have significantly waned. As such, it's possible to look at their decades-long run as a largely complete picture. From the disfigured Red Skull in the MCU Phase 1 to sleeper cells years later, here is Hydra's complete timeline explained.
Hydra's story is expanded significantly in the TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, according to the latest official MCU timeline book and how events have unfolded on the big screen, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not currently considered full MCU canon. As such, this article only covers what is completely and officially confirmed as part of the main MCU timeline.
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The Rise Of Red Skull And The Acquisition Of The Tesseract
1942
In the midst of World War II, Hydra is formed as the Nazi's deep science division, dedicated to researching and experimenting with non-traditional technology and the supernatural. Johan Schmidt, the future Red Skill, is appointed to lead the department. Experimenting on himself with a flawed version of the same Super Soldier Serum more effectively used later on Steve Rogers/Captain America, Schmidt is physically disfigured and earns the nickname Red Skull due to his iconic red face and skull-like head.
In March 1942, Schmidt discovers the Tesseract in Tønsberg, Norway, where Odin had long ago hidden it. Hydra is able to combine this incredible power source with the inventions of Hydra scientist Arnim Zola to create unprecedented technology to aid them in the war. In response to Hydra's successful advances, the allies are forced to use their own Super Soldier Serum from Abraham Erskine on Steve Rogers.
The Initial Fall Of Hydra
1943-1945
Though Steve Rogers, the newly dubbed Captain America, is initially used by the United States as a recruitment tool around the nation, he eventually sees combat and begins turning the tide in the Allies' favor. In March 1943, Steve Rogers is dropped off deep into Nazi territory in a desperate bid to free several prisoners - including Steve's lifelong friend Bucky Barnes. Steve succeeds, and it's here that Rogers and Schmidt meet face-to-face for the first time, establishing their iconic rivalry.
However, the war marches on for years longer. On an undisclosed date, sometime after freeing Bucky and others from imprisonment, Bucky falls into a snowy abyss and is presumed dead. In March 1945, Steve confronts Red Skull aboard the Valkyrie airship. Skull disappears in a burst of energy from the Tesseract, and Steve goes down with the ship to save the targets of its onboard payload.
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Hydra's Infiltration Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Begins
Late 1940s
As in real life, the United States attempted to recruit former Nazi scientists after the end of World War II in hopes that their work could contribute to the greater good (Operation Paperclip). In the MCU, this includes Hydra lead scientist Arnir Zola, who feigns a new allegiance to the United States. However, Zola works in secret to rebuild Hydra and infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. and other powerful government agencies. He spends decades undercover, secretly planting seeds for Hydra's later resurgence.
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The Creation Of The Winter Soldier And The Expansion Of Hydra
Late 1940s Through The 1960s
Though Hydra appears to collapse at the close of World War II, cells continue operating away from the public eye. One of their most horrific operations is the creator of super soldiers, brainwashed individuals forced to commit heinous acts of violence against their will. Among them is former American soldier Bucky Barnes, who was recovered by Hydra after his apparent death and fitted with a powerful metal arm.
Operating under the name The Winter Soldier, Bucky spends decades as Hydra's top assassin. Using their assassins and moles deeply planted around the world, Hydra promotes global destabilization and conflict to further their own interests. However, Hydra remains hidden, believing that humanity needs rigid control but refuses to accept it when it's presented plainly.
In the 1950s, the United States creates another batch of super solders in secret from unwilling minority test subjects, including Isaiah Bradley, who is imprisoned after his service in the Vietnam War to keep the project secret. However, during his time in Vietnam, clashes with the Winter Soldier.
The Death Of Arnim Zola And The Birth of Hydra's Mechanical Mind
1972
In 1972, Hydra scientist and mole Arnim Zola dies. However, unwilling to accept his eventual death, Zola has prepared a way to live on. He develops an incredibly large and complex computer system (taking up a massive 200,000 square feet) and lives on as a digitized form of his former self. With a new lease on pseudo-life, Zola continues to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. while secretly guiding Hydra's expansion and influence. In particular, he uses his digital presence to access agent personnel files and identify those potentially susceptible to Hydra recruitment.