Compare Hitler And Machiavelli

SaDale Richards

POLS 1102

Machiavelli Essay

The person that closely embodied Machiavelli’s “The Prince” was Adolf Hitler. There is more to Adolf Hitler than everyone usually knows. Besides from being one of the most hated people in the history of the world, he had the characteristics of a good leader. The correlation between him, and Machiavelli’s perspective on what a good prince/leader is supposed to be is extremely similar. It is as if Hitler Studied “The Prince” before he began to pursue his rule over Germany. There are several ideas that are presented, to prove this comparison plausible.

“The Prince” is often referred to as a guidebook for thugs. After reading it, and comparing it to Hitler. It makes that idea become more

They had a very good reason to after all. He threw fear upon the people, and came to a conclusion that all Jewish people were sinners. Any person caught aiding a Jewish person or befriending one would be dealt with. These were the scare tactics Hitler used to control his people. He had overwhelming authority over his people. Which Machiavelli said is the best way to be. He used this the against the Holocaust victims, and against the people of Germany. To just flat out annihilate the Jewish people all together. Other countries also showed fear of him. According to Machiavelli, you should strive to be either loved, feared or both. Hitler had no interest in being loved. He wanted what he wanted and he got it. Once he threw the fear upon people, no one dared to question his authority. Once that fear factor came into play, he had Germany in the palm of his hands. People were afraid to sleep at night, because the fear was so unfathomable. They were worried they would say something to offend the Nazi’s. There’s a quote from The Prince, “it’s better to be feared/hated than to be loved. Hitler definitely had that part down.

Hitler relates to The Prince quite well. Especially on his rise to power. He wanted to obtain his power politically, rather than by brute force. He spoke to all of the German people through his verbal displays. He wanted all of his people to avoid the communist and Jewish. He captured the popular votes and had the people on

Hitler followed Machiavelli’s advice involving his military power. He made all of his military men swear themselves to him and not the country. Hitler wasn’t necessarily a man of absolute strategy. He named himself the commander of all the military forces. He was actually the cause of the Second World War. He was far from neutral. He allied himself with weaker countries such as Japan and Italy. Machiavelli said never ally yourself with a stronger power, and he did not. It is not a smart thing to do, because that allied force, could eventually overwhelm you. He did embark on military journeys, he and his military were happy to do. In his eyes he did it do try and cleanse world and become powerful. The subject war was always on his mind. Because Germany was constantly at war. Machiavelli’s said war should always be on one’s mind. He always had a strategic plan when he conquered countries like, Belgium, France, Denmark, and Poland. One of his unsuccessful takeovers, was when he tried to take over Russia. That strategic plan didn’t work out so well. He failed, but no one is