real historians

Allan Bullock

Hitler was an unprincipled opportunist who was prepared to do or say anything to gain power.

Hugh Trevor Roper

Hitler genuinely believed the things he told his own people.

A.J.P. Taylor

Hitler was evil but great in action; he outmaneuvered his opponents.

Ian Kershaw

Nazism was unique; Hitler used charisma to control people.

Robert Conquest

Stalin’s extreme policies led to the Great Terror, driven by paranoia.

Isaac Deutscher

Stalin was like Ivan the Terrible; needed to surpass his predecessors to gain full control.

Robert Overy

Stalin had poor organization and preparation during WWII.

Roy Medvedev

Stalin was motivated by a lust for power.

Alexander Nove

Purge victims were scapegoats for real failures like poor supply and planning.

Tang Tsou

Mao encouraged leaders to go among the masses to control people more efficiently.

John King Fairbank

Mao was a rebel and modern leader; trained people to be loyal.

Merle Goldman

Believed the masses should be governed by a trained and loyal elite.

Jonathan Spence

During the Cultural Revolution, the lack of communist guidelines made everyone a target.

Steven Levine

Argued that Mao’s use of violence was driven by a belief it was necessary for revolution.

Arthur Schlesinger

Blamed the Soviets for the Cold War due to their expansionism and breaking agreements.

Joyce Kolko

Argued the USA was the aggressor in the Cold War due to its capitalist interests.

John Lewis Gaddis

Said the Cold War developed from both sides: USSR wanted security, USA feared communism.

Odd Arne Westad

Saw fear and mutual hostility as the root causes of the Cold War.

Roderick MacFarquhar

manipulating through cultural revolution, chaos, to maintain power - maos last revolution - cultural revolution was to regain power and ensure his ideologies continued

Jon Halliday

Mao killed millions, was ruthless, and had little morality

Frank Dikotter

used violence to stay in power