How Hitler, Nasser, Mao and Castro Gained and Kept Power
Hitler Gain of Power
Hitler rose to power because of Germany’s economic crisis, political instability and resentment after World War I. In 1919, he joined the German Workers’ Party, which later became the Nazi Party, and promoted nationalism, anti-communism and opposition to the Treaty of Versailles. In November 1923, he attempted to overthrow the Weimar Republic during the Beer Hall Putsch, but the coup failed and he was imprisoned. After his release, he decided to pursue power mainly through elections and legal political opportunities. The Great Depression of 1929 was a turning point because unemployment, poverty and the failure of the government increased public dissatisfaction. Hitler promised to create jobs, restore Germany’s military strength, reject the Treaty of Versailles and prevent a communist revolution. Nazi propaganda presented him as a strong leader who could restore national pride. In the July 1932 elections, the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag, although they did not obtain an absolute majority. Conservative politicians believed they could control Hitler and encouraged President Paul von Hindenburg to appoint him Chancellor on 30 January 1933. Therefore, Hitler gained power through a combination of electoral support, economic crisis, propaganda and political negotiations with conservative elites.
Maintenance of Power: Hitler
Hitler maintained power through laws, propaganda and repression. After the Reichstag Fire in 1933, the Reichstag Fire Decree suspended civil liberties and allowed the persecution of opponents. The Enabling Act (1933) allowed Hitler to pass laws without parliamentary approval, establishing a dictatorship. During the Night of the Long Knives (1934), he eliminated rivals and strengthened the army’s support. After Hindenburg’s death, Hitler became the Führer, combining the presidency and chancellorship. He also used Goebbels’ propaganda, the Gestapo and the SS to control society. Finally, the Nuremberg Laws (1935) institutionalized discrimination against Jews.
Nasser Gain of Power
Nasser rose to power because of political corruption, social inequality, British influence and dissatisfaction with the Egyptian monarchy. Many Egyptians believed that King Farouk’s government was weak and unable to solve the country’s economic and political problems. In July 1952, Nasser and the Free Officers Movement organized a military coup that forced Farouk to abdicate. The monarchy was formally abolished in June 1953, and Egypt became a republic. Initially, Muhammad Naguib became president, but Nasser held considerable influence through the Revolutionary Command Council. Nasser gradually eliminated his political rivals, and in November 1954, Naguib was removed from power and placed under house arrest. Nasser became prime minister in 1954 and president in June 1956. He gained support by promising national independence, social justice, land redistribution and economic modernization. His rise was therefore based mainly on military intervention, the weakening of political opponents and the promise of transforming Egypt into a stronger and more independent country.
Maintenance of Power: Nasser
Nasser maintained power through nationalism, economic reforms and repression. The Agrarian Reform Law (1952) limited large landholdings and redistributed land, weakening wealthy landowners and gaining peasant support. In 1956, he nationalized the Suez Canal, increasing his popularity as a defender of Egyptian independence. He expanded state control over industry and promoted education and modernization. Politically, he restricted opposition parties and persecuted the Muslim Brotherhood. In 1962, he introduced the National Charter and established the Arab Socialist Union as the dominant political organization, strengthening state control.
Mao Gain of Power
Mao rose to power through revolution, peasant support and victory in the Chinese Civil War. In 1921, the Chinese Communist Party was founded, and Mao became one of its important members. In 1927, the alliance between the Communists and the Nationalists broke down after the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, attacked the Communists. Mao subsequently developed a revolutionary strategy based on the countryside and the mobilization of peasants rather than relying mainly on urban workers. During the Long March of 1934–1935, Communist forces retreated to northern China to escape Nationalist military campaigns. Although the march caused enormous losses, it strengthened Mao’s position within the Communist Party. During the war against Japan from 1937 to 1945, the Communists expanded their influence by organizing rural communities and promising social and land reforms. After World War II, the Chinese Civil War resumed between the Communists and the Nationalists. The Communists benefited from peasant support, effective organization and the Nationalist government’s economic and military difficulties. In 1949, the Communists defeated the Nationalists on mainland China, forcing Chiang Kai-shek’s government to retreat to Taiwan. On 1 October 1949, Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China, establishing Communist rule.
Maintenance of Power: Mao
Mao maintained power through Communist Party control, economic reforms and political repression. The Agrarian Reform Law (1950) redistributed land and weakened landlords. The First Five-Year Plan (1953–1957) promoted industrialization and state control of the economy. During the Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956–1957), Mao initially encouraged criticism but later punished many critics through the Anti-Rightist Campaign. The Great Leap Forward (1958–1962) attempted to increase agricultural and industrial production through communes but contributed to a devastating famine. In 1966, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, mobilizing the Red Guards against supposed enemies and political rivals to strengthen his personal authority.
Castro Gain of Power
Castro came to power because of opposition to Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship, political corruption and social inequality in Cuba. In March 1952, Batista seized power through a military coup and cancelled the planned elections, weakening the legitimacy of his government. Castro initially attempted to challenge Batista through armed rebellion. In July 1953, he led an unsuccessful attack on the Moncada Barracks and was imprisoned. After receiving amnesty in 1955, Castro went into exile in Mexico, where he organized the 26th of July Movement with other revolutionaries, including Ernesto “Che” Guevara. In December 1956, Castro returned to Cuba aboard the Granma yacht with a small group of fighters. Although the expedition suffered heavy losses, the survivors established a guerrilla base in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Between 1956 and 1958, the rebels used guerrilla warfare, propaganda and opposition to Batista to expand their influence. Batista’s government increasingly relied on repression, while parts of Cuban society withdrew their support from the regime. The rebels received assistance from sympathizers and benefited from growing opposition to Batista. On 1 January 1959, Batista fled Cuba, and the revolutionary movement took power. Castro became prime minister in February 1959. His rise was therefore the result of armed struggle, the weakness of Batista’s government and the ability of the revolutionary movement to present itself as an alternative to dictatorship.
Maintenance of Power: Castro
Castro maintained power through social reforms, nationalizations and political control. The First Agrarian Reform Law (1959) limited large landholdings and redistributed land, gaining support among peasants. In 1960, he nationalized businesses and foreign-owned properties, increasing state control over the economy. He also established the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (1960) to mobilize supporters and monitor suspected opponents. The failed Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) strengthened his image as a defender of Cuba. His Literacy Campaign (1961) improved education and popular support. Finally, the Communist Party (1965) and the Constitution of 1976 established the Party’s leading role and consolidated Cuba’s one-party system.