Introduction
Millions of lives were lost as a result of the significant influence that two political figures, Hitler and Stalin, had on the course of history. Some people often assess the significance of these historical personalities by counting the number of people who died as a result of the war, the concentration camps, and the Gulag (Snyder). Both shared responsibility for the murders of people and the collapse of the international order (Snyder). The two infamous men share more similarities than just this, though. In this essay, several historical leaders are briefly compared to demonstrate how they shared many traits but attained power in various ways.
Analysis
Both Hitler and Stalin experienced difficulties with their fathers as children. The two future leaders struggled greatly while they were in school. Hitler, for instance, stopped studying at the age of 16 owing to health issues and never enrolled at the Vienna Academy of Art, his dream further education institution (Jones 394). For "propagating Marxism," Stalin was expelled from the Theological Seminary of Tiflis (Ltd. in Jones 790). The two guys participated in military operations and earned the respect and esteem of their countrymen. They joined the political organizations that served as their stepping stones to unchecked power in their nations. To become leaders, they each employed various methods, many of which were unethical, immoral. Although there are still supporters of them in contemporary society, millions of people genuinely believed in and admired them.
The contrasts between the two tyrants can also reveal more about the individuals and the countries they ruled. Unlike Hitler, who fought in World War I on behalf of his country, Stalin engaged in terrorism that was directed against the state (Jones 790). Hitler entered politics mostly through legal means. For example, his party prevailed in the elections (Jones 394). Stalin, on the other hand, was often imprisoned, was viewed as a terrorist, and ascended the political ladder without any elections (Jones 790).
Hitler was a gifted orator who persuaded his audience to support him and his beliefs (Jones 394). One of the key factors in Stalin's success was that he was a "dull" speaker who was frequently overlooked by his opponents inside the party (Jones 790). These distinctions demonstrate that the Germans saw Hitler as a charismatic leader, whereas the Russians had limited freedom to choose their own leader and instead accepted the winner of the internal party election. Finally, there were differences between the two leaders' perspectives on the ideal political system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to conclude that Hitler and Stalin shared many characteristics, since they both had challenging upbringings and struggled to achieve ultimate authority and the adoration of the populace. Hitler, however, employed more legal means to accomplish his political objectives than Stalin did. Despite this, neither ruler respected human life, which led to the persecution of many groups and the outbreak of the Second World War. We can conclude that they both are not born evils, but somehow they became strict.
Bob Bayer's investigation for the three seasons of Hunting Hitler established beyond a reasonable doubt that Hitler might have successfully escaped Germany after the war and vanished into South America.
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