Adolf Hitler was a man of Austrian origin. He was a German politician, a dictator and the leader of the Nazi party. He served as the chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945. In the first six years of power, his country suffered a great deal of depressions especially economic depression due to the consequences of World War One. The citizens had great hope in their leader to restore glory to their country and save them from the Great Depression.
On the other hand, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the Unites States. He was a democrat, a political leader and an American statesman. He served in between 1933 and 1945. He made a record of wining four presidential elections. He had a policy for the New deal, which consisted of relief, recovery and reforms, to help emancipate his country from depression.
Hitler believed that what caused problems in his country is that the people were blinded by the promises of the enemies at home and abroad, which led to losing touch with freedom and honor. Their problems were mainly caused when all people were dissolved in a confusion of political and personal opinions, ideological differences and different economic interests. Roosevelt felt that unjustified terror and unreasoning paralyzed the efforts needed to convert retreat into advance. He also blamed the banks for their problems by saying, “[they] failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence” (Roosevelt, 1933, n.p).
Roosevelt said that he would deal with banking, unemployment, agriculture and foreign policy by saying, “it can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself” (Roosevelt, 1933, n.p). His comment meant that people were recruited by the government itself. On the matter of banking he said, “with strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments” (Roosevelt, 1933, n.p). He believed that Agriculture could be helped by making better use of the land. He said, “raising the value of agricultural products and make better use of the land” (Roosevelt, 1933, n.p). He also believed that the agricultural sector could be further improved by getting the local government to lower their costs hence prevent growing losses. Roosevelt believed in solving the problems within the country first before relating with their neighbors. He firmly stated that it was of utmost importance to maintain a good relationship with their neighbours so that they could secure interdependence in foreign trade. He said that “foreign exchange comes second to the establishment of a sound national economy” (Roosevelt, 1933, n.p).
On the other hand, on the matter of unemployment, banking and foreign policy, Hitler believed in tackling them using the two four- year plans; on the matter of unemployment he said, “A concerted and all-embracing attack must be made on unemployment [to save the] German working class” (Hitler, 1933, n.p). He specifically pointed out the land policy and compulsory labor as the best means of addressing the problem (Hitler, 1933, n.p). He planned to save agriculture by stating, “the German farmer must be rescued in order that the nation may be supplied with the necessities of life” (Hitler, 1933, n.p). He wanted to secure the rights of his people and restore freedom in the country first; he considers this as his highest mission (Hitler, 1933). He said, “The Government considers its highest mission to be the securing of the right to live and the restoration of freedom to our nation” (Hitler, 1933, n.p). Hitler considered it very important for the Government to avoid any experiments that would endanger the currency. All his goals were summarized in a single statement when he said, “ the promotion of employment, the preservation of the farmer, as well as in the exploitation of individual initiative, the Government sees the best guarantee for the avoidance of any experiments which would endanger the currency” (Hitler, 1933, n.p).
Both leaders had put the interests of their countries first. Both of them provided plans to deal with unemployment, the economy, agriculture and foreign policy. In addition, both leaders had a vision to restore the former glory of their countries and most importantly, they wanted to take the country through these tough times. Also, they believed in God to help them in their leadership.
References
Hitler, A. (1933). Berlin: Proclamation to the German Nation. Retrieved 14 March 2016, from http://www.hitler.org/speeches/02-01-33.html
Roosevelt, F. (1933). First Inaugural Address. Retrieved 14 March 2016, from http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres49.html
