Twin demons study

Hitler’s political beliefs

Fascist, nationalist state aiming to follow strict rigid schemes in the hope of strengthening both the military and economy through unity.

Stalin's Political Beliefs

Communist state aiming to eliminate hierarchy and serve individual needs through community ownership.

Hitler's Rise to Power

Elected chancellor in 1933 during a recession; merged chancellor and president roles to become Fuhrer.

Stalin's Rise to Power

Appointed General Secretary, manipulated support after Lenin's death to sideline Trotsky.

Police State - Hitler

Established SS and Gestapo for protection and suppression of opposition, utilizing concentration camps.

Police State - Stalin

Created NKVD for surveillance; used gulags and public trials during the 'Great Terror' to eliminate dissent.

Cult of Personality - Hitler

Portrayed as a benevolent leader through speeches and imagery, fostering sympathy and loyalty.

Cult of Personality - Stalin

Manipulated images and history to present himself as Lenin's rightful successor; published propaganda.

Hitler's Economic Policy

Implemented National Labor Service to reduce 6 million unemployed; introduced 'Strength Through Joy' for leisure.

Stalin's Economic Policy

Launched Five-Year Plans for rapid industrialization; collectivization led to famine and the arrest of millions.

Hitler's Unemployment Rate upon Elected

6 million people were unemployed when Hitler was elected Chancellor in 1933.

National Labor Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst)

Established by Hitler to provide work for the unemployed, creating jobs in the army and infrastructure.

Strength Through Joy Program

Introduced by Hitler to reward hard work with leisure activities; by 1936, there were 35 million members.

Stalin's 5-Year Plans Introduction Year

Stalin introduced the 5-Year Plans in 1928 to expand the Soviet industry.

Kulaks Arrested under Stalin

Approximately 5 million kulaks were arrested and deported during Stalin's collectivization efforts.

Famine in the Soviet Union Year

A famine occurred in 1932 as a result of Stalin's policies, particularly the collectivization.

Stalin's Agricultural Improvement Year

By 1933, agriculture began to improve, leading to the cessation of targeting kulaks.

Hitler's early political involvement

Joined the German Worker’s party in 1919 after finding the Treaty of Versailles unjust.

Hitler's prison sentence

Arrested in 1923 for staging an armed uprising in Munich; sentenced to 5 years, released after 9 months for good behavior.

Hitler's political ascent

Became party chair in 1923, chancellor in 1933 during Germany's recession; unified roles of chancellor and president on January 30, 1933.

Stalin's reading of communist ideology

Read the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and joined the Bolsheviks in 1903.

Stalin's imprisonment and exile

Arrested in 1908, exiled to Siberia for 2 years, managed to escape once but completed the full sentence.

Bolshevik takeover

The Bolsheviks took control in February 1917, despite Lenin's opposition to Stalin's future leadership.

Lenin's death and Stalin's power struggle

1920-1929, power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky; Stalin appointed general secretary allowing him control over key discussions.

Trotsky's funeral

Stalin manipulated events by giving Trotsky the wrong day for Lenin’s funeral to diminish his influence.

SS (Schutzstaffel)

Created by Hitler to protect him personally and enforce Nazi policies, responsible for the concentration camps and secret police duties.

Gestapo

The secret state police of Nazi Germany, which arrested without trial and used informants to target citizens.

Concentration Camps

Detention camps established by Hitler for political opponents and marginalized groups, often used for forced labor.

NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs)

The secret police in the Soviet Union responsible for monitoring opposition, enforcing political repression, and managing the gulags.

Gulags

Forced labor camps in the Soviet Union used to imprison millions accused of opposing Stalin's policies.

Great Terror

A period from 1936 to 1938 under Stalin where approximately 1 million people from the Communist Party were executed to eliminate opposition.

Public Trials

Trials used by Stalin to demonstrate the consequences of opposition, often involving forced confessions and severe penalties.

Targeting Citizens

Both regimes targeted their citizens through informants and secret police, creating an atmosphere of fear and repression.

Background similarities

SIMILAR:

upbringings where they were seen as prodigal

joined political parties early on in their lives

criminal records as a result of those efforts

element of luck in rise to power (chancellor during recession where extreme ideals were appealing and general secretary role that allowed him to generate bias)

had to eliminate opposition in order to gain power (hitler with president and meetings, can be argued that he was originally elected. stalin with meetings and trotsky)

Background differences

DIFFERENT:

very different drives. (hierarchy vs war)

rise to power/reputation(hitler elected, stalin by manipulation)

inheritance (stalin took over from lenin, hitler started from scratch)

power struggle(stalin had to directly oppose another when hitler had the support of the party

Police states similarities

Similar—-

both created their own police states

both created secret police for informants

both imprisoned opposiyion

both target citizens

both falsely accused others

Police states differences

Different—-

hitler grew numbers while stalin massacred

stalin used public trials when hitler didn’t.

Cult of personality similar

Similar:

both tried to show their leadership would lead to a utopia where everything was perfect (hitler with stereotypical blonde hair and blue eyes, stalin with uniform girls in straight rigid lines.)

bringing the country forward through pointing or leadership

showing themselves as father figures that protected and nurtured the country.

Cult of personality difference

Differences:

stalin focused on distancing himself from history by editing or removing the existence of some events while hitler sought to replicate the longevity of the roman empire through symbolism in architecture

hitler used speeches while stalin focused on political/historical texts to build reputation.

stalin portrayed himself as above everyone while hitler portrayed himself as equal to all

Economy conclusion

Stalin targeted modernization while Hitler focused on employment rates. Hitler looked at quality of life to improve the economy while Stalin looked at rigid schemes such as collectivisation.