I decided to write my essay about Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte as I believe that they are one of the brightest personalities in the world history. Till nowadays they are hated and loved, worshiped or compared with the devil. In my humble opinion, this is not very correct to compare these two historical figures. However, I will try as Napoleon and Hitler deserved to be talked about regardless our personal opinion about them.
Hitler and Napoleon tried to take over Europe. Both of them were serving the bourgeoisie. However, Napoleon served the bourgeoisie on the stage when it was still a progressive class. The ideology of bourgeoisie retreated from the ideology of the French revolution. Hence, he, unlike Hitler, never conducted genocide and treated other people as inferior. Hitler came to power as a protegee of the bourgeoisie in the stage of decline. It resorted to fascism in the conditions of a revolutionary situation to prevent a revolution. Moreover, it resorted to the ideology that says that all Germans should be united against a common enemy in other States, if there is a complete and inferior person. This ideology is called Nazism. It was not popular during Napoleonic times.
Napoleon wanted to build an Empire that would be subjected to him, capturing other countries and making their people his vassals. On the other hand, Hitler's plans were much more brutal. He needed not just an Empire and living space for Germans, which carried out ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories. In addition, he was obsessed with the superiority of the German race, while Napoleon just wanted to rule.
Both of them fancied themselves as masters of the world, invincible, wanted to impose their ideology to subjugate the rebellious and unconquered peoples. However, Napoleon was not the violent person like Hitler. All after all, Hitler had death camps and he broke millions of lives. Moreover Napoleon loved Josephine sincerely, and Hitler did not like anyone, Eva Braun was his toy only.
However, Desmond Seward (1989) argues that the similarities between them are greater than the differences. Both were not born in those countries, which they ruled. Napoleon was born in Corsica (Italy), while Hitler was born in Austria. Both of them were neither noble nor rich. Also these leaders had a phenomenal memory; both were extremely ambitious and hot-tempered. Moreover, their ideas were similar as Napoleon and Hitler wanted complete domination, not only over Europe but over the whole world. (Seward, 1989)
I would also like to admit few interesting historical facts:
Napoleon was born in 1760 and Hitler was born in 1889 (difference of 129 years).
Napoleon came to power in 1804 and Hitler came to power in 1933 (difference of 129 years).
Napoleon entered Vienna in 1812 and Hitler entered Vienna in 1941 (difference of 129 years).
Napoleon lost the war in 1816 and Hitler lost the war in 1945 (difference of 129 years).
Both came to power when they were 44 years old.
Both attacked Russia when they were 52 years old.
Both lost the war when they were 56 years old. (Englund, 2006)
In conclusion, I would say that anyway the greatest difference is that the majority of French people treasure Napoleon, but you cannot say the same for Germany. As for me, Hitler is a fear and hatred of all nations and the shame of Germany while Napoleon is a courage, talent and pride of France. Nevertheless, Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler were two of history's greatest dictators and have made a huge contribution to the world development.
References:
Seward, D. (1989). Napoleon and Hitler. New York NY, USA: Viking.
Englund, S. (2006). Napoleon and Hitler. J Historical Society, 6(1), 151-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5923.2006.00171.x
