Pacio, Mary Joy A.

2PSY-1

Biography of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) was the leader of Germany during the Third Reich (1933–1945).
He was the primary instigator of both the Second World War in Europe and the mass execution of
millions of people deemed to be "enemies," or inferior to the Aryan ideal. He rose from being a
talentless painter to the dictator of Germany and, for a few months, emperor of much of Europe. His
empire was crushed by an array of the world's strongest nations; he killed himself before he could
be tried and brought to justice.
After WWI, Hitler became convinced he was destined to help Germany, but his first move
was to stay in the army for as long as possible because it paid wages, and to do so, he went along
with the socialists now in charge of Germany. He was soon able to turn the tables and drew the
attention of army anti-socialists, who were setting up anti-revolutionary units. In 1919, working for
an army unit, he was assigned to spy on a political party of roughly 40 idealists called the German
Workers Party. Instead, he joined it, swiftly rose to a position of dominance (he was chairman by
1921), and renamed it the Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). He gave the party the Swastika
as a symbol and organized a personal army of "storm troopers" (the SA or Brownshirts) and
bodyguards of black-shirted men, the Schutzstaffel (SS), to attack opponents. He also discovered,
and used, his powerful ability for public speaking.
In 1932, Hitler acquired German citizenship and ran for president, coming in second to von
Hindenburg. Later that year, the Nazi party acquired 230 seats in the Reichstag, making them the
largest party in Germany. At first, Hitler was refused the office of Chancellor by a president who
distrusted him, and a continued snub might have seen Hitler cast out as his support failed. However,
factional divisions at the top of government meant that, thanks to conservative politicians believing
they could control Hitler, he was appointed chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. Hitler
moved with great speed to isolate and expel opponents from power, shutting trade unions and
removing communists, conservatives, and Jews.
Later that year, Hitler perfectly exploited an act of arson on the Reichstag (which some
believe the Nazis helped cause) to begin the creation of a totalitarian state, dominating the March 5
elections thanks to support from nationalist groups. Hitler soon took over the role of president when
Hindenburg died and merged the role with that of chancellor to become führer ("leader") of
Germany.
In 1932, Hitler acquired German citizenship and ran for president, coming in second to von
Hindenburg. Later that year, the Nazi party acquired 230 seats in the Reichstag, making them the
largest party in Germany. At first, Hitler was refused the office of Chancellor by a president who
distrusted him, and a continued snub might have seen Hitler cast out as his support failed. However,
factional divisions at the top of government meant that, thanks to conservative politicians believing
they could control Hitler, he was appointed chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. Hitler
moved with great speed to isolate and expel opponents from power, shutting trade unions and
removing communists, conservatives, and Jews.
Later that year, Hitler perfectly exploited an act of arson on the Reichstag (which some
believe the Nazis helped cause) to begin the creation of a totalitarian state, dominating the March 5
Pacio, Mary Joy A.
2PSY-1

elections thanks to support from nationalist groups. Hitler soon took over the role of president when
Hindenburg died and merged the role with that of chancellor to become führer ("leader") of
Germany.

Biography of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela is a South African leader who spent years in prison for opposing apartheid,
the policy by which the races were separated and whites were given power over blacks in South
Africa. Upon his release from prison, Mandela became the first president of a black-majority-ruled
South Africa in which apartheid was officially ended. A symbol of hope for many, Mandela is also
a former winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
During the twenty-seven years that Mandela spent in prison, his example of quiet suffering
was just one of many pressures on South Africa's apartheid government. Public discussion of
Mandela was illegal, and he was allowed few visitors. But as the years dragged on, he was
increasingly viewed as a martyr (one who suffers for a cause) in South Africa and around the world,
making him a symbol of international protests against apartheid.
In 1988 Mandela was hospitalized with an illness, and after his recovery he was returned to
prison under somewhat less harsh conditions. By this time, the situation within South Africa was
becoming desperate for the ruling white powers. Protest had spread, and international pressures for
the end of apartheid were increasing. More and more, South Africa was isolated as a racist state. It
was against this backdrop that F. W. de Klerk (1936–), the president of South Africa, finally
responded to the calls from around the world to release Mandela.
As president, Mandela worked to ease the dangerous political differences in his country and
to build up the South African economy. To a remarkable degree he was successful in his aims.
Mandela's skill at building compromise and his enormous personal authority helped him lead the
transition to democracy. In an effort to help the country heal, he also backed the establishment of a
Truth and Reconciliation Commission which offered amnesty (exemption from criminal
prosecution) to those who had committed crimes during the apartheid era. This action helped to
promote discussion about the country's history.
Mandela retired in June 1999, choosing not to challenge Thabo Mbeki, his vice president, in
elections. Mbeki won the election for the ANC and was inaugurated as president on June 16, 1999.
Mandela quickly took on the role of statesman after leaving office, acting that year as a mediator in
the peace process in Burundi, where a civil war had led to the killing of thousands.
In late 2001, Mandela joined the outcry against terrorism when he expressed his support for
the American bombing of Afghanistan after terrorist attacks against the United States on September
11, 2001. By January 2002, however, Mandela had modified his support somewhat after South
African Muslims criticized him for appearing to be insensitive to the sufferings of the Afghan people.
As quoted by the Associated Press, Mandela called his earlier remarks supporting the bombings an
"overstatement" and urged caution against prematurely labeling Osama bin Laden, the man
suspected of plotting the attacks, as a terrorist.
Pacio, Mary Joy A.
2PSY-1

Adolf Hitler vs. Nelson Mandela

Adolf Hitler and Nelson Mandela are vastly different men, however in many ways through out their
lives they both held a huge influence over their countrymen, the politics of their country and
inevitably they both shaped the course of history for better or worse. Their fight, was not won
without a struggle, but was helped by their masterful oratorical skills and the willingness of their
followers to do anything for "the cause".

Criteria Adolf Hitler Nelson Mandela

He knew what he was doing a man of peace; had a powerful

Personality and he did it with pride and
enthusiasm
A dictator; Hitler was often
very unreasonable. He would
give orders that had little to do
Way of Leadership with military logic and would
often rant in prolonged
monologues that would last
hours.
Assist the German government
Goals in "fighting Marxism"; to unite
all German-speaking people in
one German state
led his nation into a disastrous
war and triggered the
Role in Society extermination of millions of
his own citizens due to his anti-
Semitic ideology
The youth leader of the
German Reich is solely
competent for all missions of
the physical, ideological, and
Principles moral education of the entire
German youth outside of the
house of the parents and the
school.
presence and disarmed
enemies with his smile
focused on goals and a mission
beyond himself; ethical
leadership style which is
defined by the moral
“correctness” of each decision
that is made
democratic and free society in
which all persons will live
together in harmony and with
equal opportunities
He contributed to bringing
Apartheid to an end by making
young black people believe
they were important.
Mandela looked ahead and
could see that South Africa’s
system of apartheid would not
survive into the future; stood
out among prisoners and
guards as a man of principle
and dignity, willing to sacrifice
his life for his beliefs