What are the similarities between Hitler and Stalin?

Striking Similarities

Hitler’s family name was changed.

Stalin’s family name was changed.

Hitler’s father beat him.

Stalin’s father beat him.

Hitler’s mother gave birth to 3 children before Adolf, all died.

Stalin’s mother gave birth to 3 children before Josef, all died.

Hitler was a sickly child.

Stalin was a sickly child.

Hitler’s father virtually abandoned his family.

Stalin’s father virtually abandoned his family.

Hitler was raised and loved by his mother.

Stalin was raised and loved by his mother.

Hitler very much loved his mother.

Stalin very much loved his mother.

Hitler was a Catholic.

Stalin was an Eastern Orthodox.

Hitler’s mother wanted him to be a Catholic priest.

Stalin’s mother wanted him to be an Orthodox priest.

Hitler attended a Benedictine monastery.

Stalin attended Orthodox theological school and the seminary.

Hitler’s father died when he was 13.

Stalin’s father died when he was 11.

Hitler was an exceptional student at an early age.

Stalin was an exceptional student at an early age.

Hitler developed into an excellent artist in school.

Stalin developed into an excellent artist in school.

Hitler failed to graduate from high school.

Stalin failed to graduate from high school.

Hitler never attended university.

Stalin never attended university.

Hitler lost his faith by the time he was 13.

Stalin lost his faith by the time he was 13.

By age 20 Hitler was a social dropout living on his own.

By age 20 Stalin was a social dropout living on his own.

Marxism fascinated Hitler.

Fascism fascinated Stalin.

Hitler lived in Vienna in 1913.

Stalin lived in Vienna in 1913.

Hitler served time in jail for his political beliefs.

Stalin served time in jail for his political beliefs.

Hitler, born in Austria, moved to Germany to pursue politics.

Stalin, born in Georgia, moved to Russia to pursue politics.

At age 33 Hitler led the revival of the Nazi party.

At age 33 Stalin led the revival of the Bolshevik party.

At age 35 Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf” outlining Nazi policy.

At age 34 Stalin wrote “Marxism and the National Question” outlining Bolshevik policy.

At age 42 Hitler was in control of the Nazi regime.

At age 42 Stalin was in control of the Communist regime.

In 1931 Hitler’s love committed suicide with his pistol.

In 1932 Stalin’s love committed suicide with his pistol.

Hitler’s love was 22 years younger.

Stalin’s love was 21 years younger.

At age 45 Hitler started purges of Nazi party foes.

At age 45 Stalin started purges of Communist party foes.

Hitler admired and feared Stalin.

Stalin admired and feared Hitler.

I'd check these answers with seperate sources. I can't profess to being an expert, but some of these answers do not tally at all with what I have found out in research. Especially, they did not admire each other; Hitler in particular hated Communism, and Stalin was partially responsible for Hitler's defeat in WWII.

Many of those answers are wrong...

The primary similarity between Stalin and Hitler is that they both commited mass genocide.

Hitler killed an estimated 6 million Jews whilst Stalin killed 10 million of his own people.

Answer

Books have been written on this topic, as there are many similarities.

Just to start, examine their respective backgrounds. Hitler was 'German' but from an outside province that never had joined the Prussian dominated German nation, headquartered in Berlin, ie, Austria. He thus spoke with a foreign accent. In war, his personal bravery was remarkable. His political skills were excellent and from about 1935 to 1940 he was probably the finest political leader on the globe, outclassing all his rivals.

Stalin, similarly, was from Georgia, even more foreign to Russia than Austria was to Germany. He too spoke with an accent. His political skills were crude compared to Hitler and he never was able to gain respect from other world leaders (although much of American and British academia adored him, much as they adore other tyrants and killers today).

Both were leaders of political movements that were 'revolutionary' in nature. Hitler did not invent Nazism but was a major player in the movement from shortly after its birth. Stalin, through manipulation and coercion, took over Communist party leadership from its Russian founder, Lenin.

Once in power, both sought to maintain it by keeping their competitors divided or intimidated. Hitler was notorious for promoting officials who were party cronies to positions of influence. This caused much confusion in the German economy and hindered Germany's wartime output for many years. Hitler's meddling in strictly military affairs is also well known. He had little faith in the German generals, who were the finest group on the planet in the 1930's and 40's. His constant interference caused many a German disaster in the field (although he should also get credit for a few of the German successes).

Stalin also intimidated those about him. He would order executions for any reason or no reason, just to keep others off balance. He too, hated the top Russian military leaders and had about 85% or so murdered in the late 1930's. When the war with Germany started June 1941, his interference at a few critical moments nearly cost the Soviets the war. Luckily for Russia, he never interferred as consistently as Hitler did in German military affairs. Thus natural, ruthless, military leaders such as Zhukov came to wield great influence over campaigns. (On the other hand, I can't think of a single successful military sitution that came directly from Stalin).

As for education, neither had a great formal education. Stalin was a mediocre student, for a time at a seminary. Stalin was ignorant of much world history and stayed so for his entire life. Hitler's education was basically self taught. He had a great memory and knew history and economics well. His career as an artist is well known.

In their careers neither ever showed remorse for any of the suffering they created. Hitler's ambition was mainly expressed against foreigners (Russians, Poles, etc.) since Germany's national size was relatively small. Stalin had his hands full just crushing the various ethnic groups in his own nation (Ukranians, Finns, Tartars, etc.).

Both had vast ambitions to expand their national power. Hitler sought to take over east Europe as far as the Volga, to gain some African and Asian colonies for Germany and thus to gain an equal chair on the world stage with the other major powers such as the USA and Britain. Stalin sought to expand (like all Russians leaders before him) west towards the Rhine and south towards the Indian Ocean. From this base Stalin hoped to have a base large enough to spread the communist faith throughout the world.

Answer

Both were ruthless dictators.

Answer

There were both genocidal. Stalin killed 20 million, while Hitler killed 6 million.

First answer by Ranger22. Last edit by Ulrich. Contributor trust: 103 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 67 [recommend question]