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Similarity in hitler and missolini

At the close of World War One tensions still rode high between countries, trade slowed andunemployment rose. A new form of government was also used, totalitarianism. This form of government means there is only one leader to make decisions and thus they killed or jailed allopponents. Mussolini and Hitler used this form of government after World War One to maketheir countries world powers. Although Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy were both fascisttheir lives were extremely different. This is evident in their early life, wartime experiences, aims,how the came to power and how they ruled their respective nations. There was very littlesimilarity between Hitler and Mussolini’s early lives. Schooling was not compulsory in Germany but Hitler accepted the privilege of education and became an exceptional art student. It is quite adifferent story for Mussolini who very rarely attended school but educated himself. Hitler and

Mussolini were different in their original career choices as much as they later realised theywanted to be supreme leaders. After Hitler’s mother died in 1907 and he failed school, he movedto Vienna to gain entrance to the Academy of Fine Arts. He was rejected and the next 6 years hespent in Vienna shaped him into the Jew and Aryan hater he is seen as today. After being forcedto do military service Mussolini moved regularly joining many socialist newspapers beforesettling in Italy. In Italy he joined the Avanti and soon became the editor in 1912. Both Hitler and Mussolini’s early lives were totally different but it still shaped them as leaders of much thesame political parties. There is very little similar in the achievements made by Hitler andMussolini whilst in power. Prior to Hitler and Mussolini’s instatement a leader of their respectivenations there was a large employment problem in both countries. In Germany, 1933, theunemployment rate was almost 26%, after just six years of Nazi rule over Germany the rate had

dropped dramatically to just 0.5% (Wilmat, Eric: 1977 pg 42). Mussolini also rectified Italy’sunemployment problem but over a longer period of time. Both Hitler and Mussolini built up their armies while in power however, it was Hitler that really loaded his army in fact he conscriptedfive times the legal number. Hitler made better use of his army seizing Poland in 19 days,Denmark and Norway in two months, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in six weeks.Whereas it took Mussolini many months just to take Ethiopia. Hitler achieved more thanMussolini did whilst in power and what gave him the advantage over his opponents was theexperience he gained from World War 1. The similarities between Hitler and Mussolini’swartime experiences are very limited. At the outbreak of World War 1 Mussolini aroused anger  by suggesting to the socialist party leaders that Italy enter the war against Germany. In 1914Mussolini was expelled from the socialist party. At the same time Hitler was being found unfit

after a physical examination to join the Austrain army. Hitler later moved to Munich to join theGerman army where he was enlisted as a front line soldier. Mussolini entered the war somemonths later also in the front line. During Hitler’s time in the war he was quoted as saying“Conquest is not only a right, but a duty”. Hitler also won the Iron Cross, one of the most prestigious medals of the German army before being wounded in 1916. Mussolini was likewiseforced out of the war because of wounds in 1917. The military experience gained by both later helped them conquer nations. Hitler and Mussolini’s goals are surprisingly different for both being based on fascism. The basic aims of both parties were similar with the leaders wanting the

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citizens to believe in their superior culture and to exist for the good of the state. Hitler alsoexpressed very right wing goals where as Mussolini’s were more confined. Some of the moreright wing goals expressed by Hitler were to conquer and colonise Eastern Europe, prevent non-German immigration and eradicate Jews. This statement from Wilmat backs up that Hitler loathed Jews, “was there any form of filth or crime … without at least one Jew involved” (page

54:1997). These extreme aims from Hitler made the difference between Hitler and Mussolini’saims. These aims were expressed in the way the leaders ruled their respective nations. The mostsimilar section in both Hitler and Mussolini’s totalitarian regime was the path they took to power. Whilst in parliament Hiltler and Mussolini gathered small groups of followers they woulduse to bully voters, Hitler’ SS and SA and Mussolini’s Brown Shirts. These gangs did influencethe parliament because voters feared for their lives so their parties did benefit from this. The realdriving point behind their parties was they both expressed what voters wanted to hear. Theyspoke of greater job prospects and rejuvenation of their country, which was essential in Germanywith 4.2 billion marks equalling $1 (1923) (Wilma: 1997 pg 14). Both were finally given theopportunity to form a government and carried out their election promises. The way in which thesimilarities were shown in both of their roads to power helped make their way of ruling so alike.

Their goals were also made alike by their fascist ideas. The ruling of Germany and Italy weredone very differently by the two leaders. Hitler’s rule was cold and calculating, his only joyswere the tramping of military boots in Nazi parades and the huge applause at Nazi rallies. On theother hand Mussolini tried to appear to his people as a “superman” wrestling bear cubs, skiingthe Alps an piloting his own single engine plane. Mussolini’s rule was very dramatic in uningextremely exaggerated hand gestures during his speeches, some even refer to his speeches as a performance from a talented actor. It is these determining factors that make Hitler and Mussoliniextremely different leaders. Apart from both being fascist and being the leader of a totalitarianregime, Hitler and Mussolini were very different people. Hitler’s early life, wartime experiences,aims, how he came to power and how he ruled Germany were all different to Mussolini’s ruleover Italy. Hitler’s dour and colourless view of life contrasted greatly with Mussolini’s larger than life approach to his leadership. Both leaders left their countries with a economic and socialdebt to the Allies which is still strong in the minds of many older members of the community.BIBLIOGRAPHY - Brooman, Josh. Germany 1918-45. 1996. Addison Wesley Longman.England. - Crystal, David. Biographical Dictionary. 1996. Cambridge University - Douglas, Roy.The World War 1939-1945. 1990 Routledge London - Geary, Dick. Hitler Nazism. 1993.Lancaster. New York. - Greg, Thie. Nazi Power in Germany. 1989.