Narcissists? They Both Reconstructed Their Nation

Germany yielded before being invaded in World War I, and the Entente hadn’t bombed it like they ultimately would in the second World War. But according to history, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a ton of devastation in post-war Germany.

From the brutal, humiliating terms of the Treaty of Versailles to hyperinflation that resulted from war and the Great Depression, the country was an ideal playground to be taken over by violent extremists. Hitler and the Nazis won and immediately became totalitarian rulers.

But for the first couple of years, many Germans were willing to overlook the grotesque treatment of Jews in favor of their rapidly growing economic situation and Hitler’s militarization program. This led to improved living conditions and restored national pride.

Likewise, Putin also came to power in a turbulent time for Russia. The country found itself alone after the USSR’s destruction.

And trying to steer a Western-style economy and a democratical system for the first time after being told for decades that both concepts were evil proved challenging. It resulted in corruption, widespread poverty, and an unstable democracy.

Furthermore, decades of propaganda under socialist rule made people particularly vulnerable to a man like Putin, who promised to restore dignity with strength. When he did take control, he rebuilt the Russian army into a powerhouse and made Russia feared again.