Compare Napoleon And Hitler

The world has seen the likes of many dictators, tyrants, and rulersꟷ the ‘leaders’ that would go to great lengths to get what they wanted. Among this list lay the names of Napoleon Bonaparte (b.1769, d.1821) and Adolf Hitler (b.1889, d.1945). Both Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler are well-known historic figures that have played a significant part in shaping World History. Many people believe that Napoleon and Hitler are akin: notorious warlords who wanted to conquer Europe and put their respective countries on top. However, this is not true. Although they were both autocrats who shared much in common, there are vast differences that set them apart. The former French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte and Führer of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler can

Hitler preferred traditional, extreme right-wing values while Napoleon possessed more progressive political views compared to the other governments of his time. Hitler’s views were anti-democratic, anti-liberal, anti-communist, pro-ethnic-nationalism, and anti- Semitic. As the leader of the Nazi Party of Germany, he articulated for Lebensraum (the need for space for the German nation to expand), autarky (the idea Germany should be economically self-sufficient), and that the Peace Treaty of Versailles should be abolished. Hitler also strongly believed that the German “Aryan” race was superior to all other races and that Jews, and Gypsies were “subhuman.” Napoleon, on the other hand, had a different political agenda and view of races and culture. Although he was a practicing Catholic, he allowed the people of his conquered lands to practice whichever faith they chose. More so, Napoleon freed the Serfs and ended discrimination against Jewish people by making them French citizens. He strongly believed in the idea of a strong central government and implemented reforms in France. For example, he passed a law to make all French men equal before and under the law as well as granted religious freedom for all. Although, it is true that Napoleon, like Hitler, strictly regulated his territory, and disregarded the rights of women, he was far more

Napoleons legacy is lived on by the many reforms he instituted in France during his reign. As emperor, Napoleon abolished slavery, freed the Serfs, and reorganized France’s legal system into something that was more unified and progressive. This system, called the “Code Napoléon” is the basis of the legal structure in France, and several other countries, including the state of Louisiana in the United States of America. He is remembered as the man who turned around the devastating French economy that led to the French Revolution of 1789 by implementing fair taxes, increasing trade, improving infrastructure and developing a Central Bank. He is also remembered for his distaste of religious intolerance. Prior to the French Revolution, the Catholic Church dominated French Society, and Napoleon settled an agreement with the Pope that still allowed the church to play a large role in the French society while providing religious freedom for all creeds. In addition, his memory lives on in the form of the education system in France. He established secondary schools (called lycées), created other educational institutions for the general public, promoted education for girls and improved teacher training. His reign helped to promote the principles “equality, liberty, fraternity” and European unity. In comparison to Bonaparte, Hitler’s legacy is much more bitterly reminisced, and indirect. His