Camden Mills, Bubba Wolsky

World History H/Period 5

Comparing Totalitarian Regimes

Benito Mussolini

Joseph Stalin

Adolf Hitler

Mussolini formed the Fascist

Party, deminishing the
support of many unemployed
war veterans. He organised
them into armed squads
known as Black Shirts, who
exterminated their political
enemies. Mussolini declared
that only he could restore
order and was given the
authority. He gradually
erased all democratic
institutions, and by 1925, had
made himself dictator, taking
the title "Il Duce" (the
Leader).

Joseph Stalins name meant

"man of steel". He helped
defeat Nazism and was the
supreme ruler of the Soviet
Union for a quarter of a
century. Stalin promoted and
started the collectivisation of
the farm causing mass
famine. His regime of terror
caused the death and
suffering of tens of millions.
But this powerful man began
life as the son of an alcoholic
and a mother who sent him
to study to be a priest. After
Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin
begins ruthlessly promoting
himself as his political heir, or
the next dictator.

Before starting his political

career in September 1919 at
the age of 30, Adolf Hitler
had been a unimportance.
With no formal qualifications,
he had become an aimless
drifter and failed artist before
joining the army on the
outbreak of war in August
1914. There he was not
considered worthy of
promotion because of a lack
in leadership qualities,
although his award of the
Iron Cross First Class
showed that he did not lack
courage.

Comparisons
Comparing Stalin and Hitler
Both caused the biggest mass
murders in history, both had the
same aims, and both hated each
other because of their different
political views. While Hitler had
racism beliefs, Stalin actually
didnt have any, because he was
a Communist. Hitler killed
millions of Jews, and other
non-Aryans, while Stalin
caused the death of millions of
peasants, which died because of
starvation. Both dictators wanted
to industrialize their country, both
used propaganda, and both
wanted their country to be
powerful again, but their beliefs
were different.

Comparing Hitler and Mussolini

Both of these individuals have
beginning stages of their political
careers during World War I.
During the war, both men
developed views of socialism and
communism. Although both of
these ruthless leaders a acquired
high states of power, they had
varying levels of success in their
efforts to revolt. Hitler and
Mussolini created policies around
their fascist principles in a very
similar way. Despite their
similarities, Mussolini didnt
embrace Hitlers pursuits for a
pure race of his citizens.

Comparing Stalin and Mussolini

Both of them tried to establish a
totalitarian government but had
many similarities and differences
in obtaining that goal.
Totalitarianism is when the
government holds complete
control of the citizens and their
nation. Mussolini was the head of
government and Stalin was the
head of both state and
government. Both abandoned the
old systems. Stalin had his
five-year plan and Mussolini had
a plan of his own as well. Both
favored heavy industry over
production of consumer goods.