Stalin’s Communist Russia
Коммунистическая Сталина России
Hitler’s Nazi Germany
Hitler's Nazi-Deutschland
Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are widely regarded as the greatest tyrants of the twentieth century, accountable for more violent deaths than any other leaders in history. Both have been individually and collectively labeled mass murders, tyrants, “authors of terror”, and even “twin demons of the twentieth century”. The shared political methodology of both dictators was heavily based around totalitarianism. Their apparatus of power and repression led to absolute and ruthless authority over the population of their respective nations. The disparity in Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin’s rise to power, economy, policies, totalitarian rule and methodology confirm who the greater oppressor was.
Stalin and Hitler’s individual means by which they came to power were both undertaken during a time of great instability in their countries. Both men took advantage of their nation state’s pandemonium to seize power and acquire political support for their authoritarian views. Adolf Hitler, the man who would become the dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945 first developed his German nationalism in 1914 with the outbreak of the First World War. Volunteering to fight in the German Amy, Hitler was recruited into a Bavarian regiment. Upon Germany’s defeat, Hitler, as well as a number of nationalist and conservative groups blamed the new Weimar government, along with socialists and Jews for Germany’s defeat. The signing of the armistice in November 1918 and the acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 deemed Germany responsible for causing the war and sought reparation. Hitler however refused to acknowledge Germany’s defeat. He claimed that the politician’s signatory to the armistice agreement had sold out the German army. Hitler was determined in leading Germany out of their disparity and became heavily involved in politics during the following years.