Many have drawn comparisons between Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler, leaders who aggressively expanded and acquired territory during a transition period in their country and created empires that shook the world for a time but eventually failed. However, these two powerful figures differed greatly in considerable aspects including their backgrounds, their rise to power, and their ultimate defeat.
Europe during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte showed signs of momentous changes. In 1789, France engulfed itself in an ultimately-unsuccessful revolution that dethroned the king and catapulted the country through several radical phases. Much of the continent, especially Western Europe, had already been introduced to new Enlightenment thoughts focusing on the use of reason and “Enlightened monarchs” as well as …show more content…
Born on the Italian-turned-French island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon showed interest in the military at a young age (Spielvogel). Born into a family that stemmed from Italian nobility, Napoleon received a royal scholarship to study at a military school in Brienne, France, at the age of eight. In 1784 he moved to the French military academy to study advanced strategies and tactics. At the age of sixteen he became a second lieutenant in the army (“The Young Napoleon”). From the beginning Napoleon showed interest in military affairs. Adolf Hitler came from an extremely different childhood. Europe at this time appeared much different than it had during Napoleon’s years. The continent, in the midst of a century of relative peace, had not seen a major war since the French Revolution, and the idea of imperialism affected nations worldwide. Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Austria to a
Europe during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte showed signs of momentous changes. In 1789, France engulfed itself in an ultimately-unsuccessful revolution that dethroned the king and catapulted the country through several radical phases. Much of the continent, especially Western Europe, had already been introduced to new Enlightenment thoughts focusing on the use of reason and “Enlightened monarchs” as well as …show more content…
Born on the Italian-turned-French island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon showed interest in the military at a young age (Spielvogel). Born into a family that stemmed from Italian nobility, Napoleon received a royal scholarship to study at a military school in Brienne, France, at the age of eight. In 1784 he moved to the French military academy to study advanced strategies and tactics. At the age of sixteen he became a second lieutenant in the army (“The Young Napoleon”). From the beginning Napoleon showed interest in military affairs. Adolf Hitler came from an extremely different childhood. Europe at this time appeared much different than it had during Napoleon’s years. The continent, in the midst of a century of relative peace, had not seen a major war since the French Revolution, and the idea of imperialism affected nations worldwide. Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Austria to a