Stormy Daniels
Gold Member
- Mar 19, 2018
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I know people like to make Nazi comparisons for anything they don't like, and most of the time it's just laziness. But in this instance, there is a real case for Putin to be viewed as the second Hitler. Not because "evil man bad no likey." But both men are similarly motivated, similarly uninhibited, similarly empowered, and similarly resolved. I'll explain.
Similar motivations
Hitler was a young private in the German army during World War I, who was furious about Germany's defeat. The goals that drove him were a restoration of pre-war Germany territory, a final resolution to the German question by finally unifying all German peoples into a single nation-state, the resulting dominance that such a Greater Germany would enjoy, and generally a redress for what he perceived to be historical wrongs against Germany.
Putin was a young KGB agent in the Soviet Union, and eventually a protege of Yeltsin, who was enraged by the loss of the Cold War and Russia's reduced stature that resulted from the dissolution of the Soviet Union (though not necessarily the dissolution itself, which Boris Yeltsin hoped might become a spring board to increase Russian influence and standing). He has spent his life since then bent on the restoration of Russia and what he believes Russia is historically entitled to. He seeks the unification of all historical "Russian" peoples into a single nation-state, and the resulting dominance that such a macro-Russia would enjoy.
Similar inhibitions
Yes, Hitler was evil, but that's just too lazy. It's a simple conclusion to a broad question, which obscures everything it entails. It's like white-washing an old barn so you don't have to bother looking at the wood underneath. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that moral limitations generally preclude individuals from certain behaviors, and that their absence will generally open up the possible behaviors such an individual is liable to undertake. Suffice it to say, Hitler had few qualms about using extreme tactics to rise to power and stay there in Germany. Rigged elections, murder of political adversaries, and suppression of personal freedoms were bread and butter for Hitler's domestic policy. Internationally, he did not hesitate to take any bit of land he wanted at the point of a soldier's rifle.
While Russia is somewhat more predisposed to oppressive government already, Putin has routinely had dissident journalists and political adversaries killed. He attempted to murder Alexei Navalny, and then imprisoned him when the attempt failed. He invaded Georgia and the Crimean peninsula as mere land grabs, and is now invading the rest of Ukraine. It is safe to say that Putin's behavior has never gone to the full extent of what we might have expected to see from Hitler in Putin's shoes, but Putin also has to deal with a powerful NATO alliance and a more unified international community than Hitler had to deal with in his time. Regardless, Putin clearly has few moral inhibitions in pursuit of his objectives, and has shown little hesitation to commit terrible acts to pursue his ambitions.
Similar power
It should be plain to see that both Hitler and Putin are authoritarian dictators and tyrants who have shred democracy in their countries.
Similar Resolve
While it is often said that power corrupts, Hitler sought power as a means to orchestrate objectives that he had chosen many years prior. He clawed his way into prominence, used that to give himself a platform in national politics, and then stole his way to the top, all so he could pursue an agenda long set.
Early in his political career Putin managed to endear himself to Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin would eventually identify the largely unknown Putin as his hand picked successor. Having learned in the 1998 Russian financial crisis how destabilizing economic problems can be, he spent many of his early years in power focused on ensuring economic stability (even if not prosperity), along with military dominance. Putin has played a long game that necessitated the so called tandemocracy with Medvedev in order to circumvent term limits to remain in power. But he did not waiver from his overarching expansionist objectives, which he finally began bringing into full fruition upon his return to the Russian presidency.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine is little different than Hitler's invasion of Austria, and the world is now on a similar path to war.
"The German Reich is no longer willing to tolerate the suppression of ten million Germans across its borders." -Adolf Hitler, in preparation for the Anschluss.
Similar motivations
Hitler was a young private in the German army during World War I, who was furious about Germany's defeat. The goals that drove him were a restoration of pre-war Germany territory, a final resolution to the German question by finally unifying all German peoples into a single nation-state, the resulting dominance that such a Greater Germany would enjoy, and generally a redress for what he perceived to be historical wrongs against Germany.
Putin was a young KGB agent in the Soviet Union, and eventually a protege of Yeltsin, who was enraged by the loss of the Cold War and Russia's reduced stature that resulted from the dissolution of the Soviet Union (though not necessarily the dissolution itself, which Boris Yeltsin hoped might become a spring board to increase Russian influence and standing). He has spent his life since then bent on the restoration of Russia and what he believes Russia is historically entitled to. He seeks the unification of all historical "Russian" peoples into a single nation-state, and the resulting dominance that such a macro-Russia would enjoy.
Similar inhibitions
Yes, Hitler was evil, but that's just too lazy. It's a simple conclusion to a broad question, which obscures everything it entails. It's like white-washing an old barn so you don't have to bother looking at the wood underneath. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that moral limitations generally preclude individuals from certain behaviors, and that their absence will generally open up the possible behaviors such an individual is liable to undertake. Suffice it to say, Hitler had few qualms about using extreme tactics to rise to power and stay there in Germany. Rigged elections, murder of political adversaries, and suppression of personal freedoms were bread and butter for Hitler's domestic policy. Internationally, he did not hesitate to take any bit of land he wanted at the point of a soldier's rifle.
While Russia is somewhat more predisposed to oppressive government already, Putin has routinely had dissident journalists and political adversaries killed. He attempted to murder Alexei Navalny, and then imprisoned him when the attempt failed. He invaded Georgia and the Crimean peninsula as mere land grabs, and is now invading the rest of Ukraine. It is safe to say that Putin's behavior has never gone to the full extent of what we might have expected to see from Hitler in Putin's shoes, but Putin also has to deal with a powerful NATO alliance and a more unified international community than Hitler had to deal with in his time. Regardless, Putin clearly has few moral inhibitions in pursuit of his objectives, and has shown little hesitation to commit terrible acts to pursue his ambitions.
Similar power
It should be plain to see that both Hitler and Putin are authoritarian dictators and tyrants who have shred democracy in their countries.
Similar Resolve
While it is often said that power corrupts, Hitler sought power as a means to orchestrate objectives that he had chosen many years prior. He clawed his way into prominence, used that to give himself a platform in national politics, and then stole his way to the top, all so he could pursue an agenda long set.
Early in his political career Putin managed to endear himself to Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin would eventually identify the largely unknown Putin as his hand picked successor. Having learned in the 1998 Russian financial crisis how destabilizing economic problems can be, he spent many of his early years in power focused on ensuring economic stability (even if not prosperity), along with military dominance. Putin has played a long game that necessitated the so called tandemocracy with Medvedev in order to circumvent term limits to remain in power. But he did not waiver from his overarching expansionist objectives, which he finally began bringing into full fruition upon his return to the Russian presidency.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine is little different than Hitler's invasion of Austria, and the world is now on a similar path to war.
"The German Reich is no longer willing to tolerate the suppression of ten million Germans across its borders." -Adolf Hitler, in preparation for the Anschluss.
