Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini: Totalitarianism in the Twentieth Century

by Bruce F. Pauley

Rising to a great challenge in this remarkable study, Bruce Pauley compares the origins, development, and demise of all three forms of European totalitarianism, explaining why the old regimes that preceded the dictatorships failed, how the totalitarian movements arose, and how they captured, consolidated, and eventually plummeted from power.
Although its vivid portraits of the dictators' youths, early careers, relationships with women, management styles, and cults of personality–that they and their propaganda machines crafted–are certain to fascinate all readers, Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini is much more than a triple biography; it is a unique, interpretive comparison of the economics, culture, education, and health-care systems of all three dictatorships. While more conventional subjects such as diplomacy and war are by no means neglected, Professor Pauley goes further to explore the regimes' treatment of women, young people, and their terroristic oppression of religious institutions and minorities.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, College

317 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 1997

Reviews

[George Fairhurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book suffers from being a product of its time, the late 90s. Pauley sets out for a brief comparative history of Italy, Russia and Germany during the 1917-45 (and beyond for Russia) period. It's writing is sometimes a little odd, I found myself having to repeat a few sentences here and there, but it is well researched, clearly.

However, and this was my abiding thought throughout, the actual comparative part was rather brief bar a very welcome Lessons and Prospects chapter.

[Meaningless · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 villains in the twentieth century must find a way from their humble beginnings to rise up to rule over a rule they end up destroying, along with neighboring countries. Join these unlikely scumbags as Bruce Pauley describes in detail how they rose to power which ultimately ended in their own self-destructions.

Each chapter is structured around these 3 goobers, relating how similar or different they are in the chapter's topic. This keeps it fresh and interesting.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a required text for one of my history classes, it was honestly pretty good and entertaining. While conveying facts it still had a few hilarious small jabs at these three men all while giving important historical context.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Scary how this compares to things today.