Introduction
History is shaped by events that change the course of everything, and so are historians. The events that occurred in history were significant in how the individuals rose to become who they are, whether legends or villains. There are particular notable events in history that have been associated with specific individuals, whose presence changed the course of everything. The discussion will analyze how the French revolution shaped Napoleon Bonaparte, Lenin and the Bolsheviks and Hitler in relation to the fascist revolution.
Commonly remembered as Napoleon 1, he led wars that conquered most of Europe in the 19th century. What the revolution did was to give Napoleon a chance to showcase his strategic nature that resulted in him being promoted from a rank to rank in the military (Lualdi, 2009). When he was of the highest rank, he was in a position that propelled him to make decisions that would change the face of the revolution. For a part of the revolution, Napoleon, who had attended military school, remained at his Corsican home. After a while, he came back to serve in the army. He then joined forces with the revolutionary leaders Augustine Robespierre and Maximilien Robespierre.
The association made him more involved with Jacobins, a group that was dedicated to the revolution and advocated democracy. While working with the two, he got ranked as brigadier general and was arrested for his involvement in the revolution. However, upon his release, he was promoted to general major in the army after leading a royal insurrection against the revolutionary regime. That was when he started making drastic changes in France. Thereafter, he led many other successful battles against Austria and Italy and gained respect as he proceeded. In 1795, Napoleon was asked to lead an invasion on the much feared England, and he successfully rose to the occasion. In 1802, the constitution of France made Napoleon a Consul for life, which was a great honor that gave him much power. After that, he declared himself the emperor of post-revolutionary France and became the most respected leader, leading the country to great victories through good strategies. Ideally, had the revolution not happened, Napoleon would not be in any way significant to the political history of the nation. The leader was given the wings to fly on through the French revolution that marked the beginning of his great and historical leadership.
Born as VladimirUlyanov, he called himself Lenin because of his secret involvement with the revolution. It all started with an interest in radicalism through the literature that he enjoyed studying and a subsequent degree in Law. He then moved to the city and began fuelling the revolutionaries with his knowledge of principles of people such as Marx. It was through this radicalism that he formed the Bolsheviks party that was responsible for the revolution. The revolution marked the turning point in his life and turned him to a leader that was recognized by the world. The Bolsheviks party, also known as the Russian communist party, was involved in various radical activities that spread to places such as Germany and the rest of the world. There were efforts to destroy the party by the army because of its vast political affiliations. After the 1904 war with Japan that tore Russia apart, many people were crying for political reforms. The tension and need for change resulted in strikes that led the then leader, Nicholas the third, to order military action against the protestors. The engagement of the army annoyed the public and resulted in the subsequent Russian revolution. The revolution led to the creation of armies that were allied to and against the soviet government of the time. The government was fighting under the slogan of anti-communism in Russia. The Bolsheviks party played a paramount role in how the revolution turned out. He organized his party and formed the red terror army that participated in the revolution. His main Agenda was to seize as much power as he could for his party and then takeover the leadership and implement his communist ideologies. Lenin saw that as the only way that the provisional government could be kept from power, and his ideas of what was suitable for Russia take effect. Additionally, he wanted power so that he could pull the country out of the First World War that was crippling it economy. The connections that the party built with the military were paramount in the realization of the dreams that Lenin had for Russia. Consequentially, the Bolsheviks party won and gained power in 1917. The party established most of its ideologies in the country through their leader and new Emperor, Lenin. The party was essential to the power that the Emperor gained because it coordinated the masses and the military. The party consisted of allies to Lenin that made it substantially possible for him to gain control. Therefore, without the dedicated Bolsheviks party, Lenin would not have been significant in the history of Russia.
Adolf Hitler remains one of the most worshiped and idolized leaders of Germany. His idolization and image were shaped by many things that instigated both fear and admiration from his people. Hitler became one of the world’s most influential dictators through the ideologies that he had for the German nation. What happened is that after the First World War, Germany was in need of leadership that would propel it back to power. The Germans were in economic trouble and did not have any allies much attributed to the treaty of Versailles. Therefore, when Hitler presented himself with fascist ideologies, most people believed that it would help the nation regain its lost pride. He was seen as the only person who could save Germany from the turmoil in which it found itself. The fascist ideologies put him at the forefront because of what they achieve, albeit the most unethical of means(Bentley, Jerry & Ziegler, 2007). The wars that Germany created and the violence it used to obtain power was part of the ideologies that were incorporated in fascism. It believes in the rebirth of a country that had lost its way through radicalism, most of the time achieved through war. The races and countries that were against Germany were destroyed. The result if the concept of fascism in Germany was that it gained shape and what it had lost during the War. Germany and its leader were feared, and it participated in major atrocities. The principles he ruled with advocated materialism and the individualism of the German nation. The concept of fascism made him what his people considered a great leader that had brought Germany its lost Glory. With such immense support and the concept principles working as he wanted, Hitler became unstoppable.
Conclusion
It is evident that all the famous leaders that have been discussed in the above thesis got their power from particular events and historical concepts. The leaders have participated in how each of their nations has turned out and have helped to shape some of the things that exist in the world today. If it had not been for specific events that occurred, the leaders would not have immersed the power that they did.
References
Bentley, Jerry, & Ziegler, Herbert. (2007). Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past. McGraw-Hill College.
Lualdi, K. J. (2009). Sources of the making of the west: Peoples and cultures. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins.
