Childhood and Leadership

Paper Summary:

The paper points out that Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Saddam Hussein all abused their powers and leadership and all had a difficult, abusive childhood. The paper describes how these cruel dictators all grew up while watching and experiencing their fathers beat their own children and mistreat their spouses. The writer posits that the way these super-powerful people were raised, without supportive fathers, had effects on the way they later abused their leadership positions.

From the Paper:

"Adolf Hitler started his life in a small town of Austria. He was one in six other children in a poor family. Hitler was whipped everyday by his father. Many years later he stated "I then resolved never again to cry when my father whipped me. A few days later I had the opportunity of putting my will to the test... I counted silently the blows of the stick which lashed me." One of his only friends, August Kubizek, remembered Hitler as "a shy, reticent young man, yet he was able to burst into hysterical fits of anger towards those who disagreed with him," just like his father acted around his family (His Best..."). Hitler's mother died while Hitler was young of breast cancer and little Adolf was left an orphan. He soon ran out of money and was forced to live in a homeless shelter. He started school when he was six. Unfortunately, Hitler was a poor student and left school before graduation ("Foreign Affairs")."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust." Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust. 14 Dec 2006. <http://www.auschwitz.dk/Hitler.htm>.
• "The Early Years." Adolf Hitler. 14 Dec 2006. <http://www.adolfhitler.dk/index.htm>.
• "Foreign Affairs." U-S History. 14 Dec 2006. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1695.html>.
• Gatehouse, Jonathon. "Saddam Hussein: A bloody trail about to end." Macleans. 03 Nov 2006. 15 Dec 2006. <http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/world/article.jsp?content=20061106_135888_135888>.
• "Glossary of People: St." Glossary of People. 14 Dec 2006. <http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/s/t.htm>.

More papers on Childhood and Leadership:

• Persuasive Essay # 100921 : "Childhood Obesity"
• Term Paper # 103647 : "Buffett's Leadership Style"
• Research Paper # 23507 : "Mao Tse Tung and China"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: