Who was the most evil - Stalin or Hitler?

Answer 1

Comparative evil?

What are the criteria for determining relative degrees of evil?

Hitler was raised a Roman Catholic but turned his back on Christianity and wanted to create his own Norse-based religion without God.

Stalin was raised Russian Orthodox and studied for the priesthood. But he turned his back on religion and denounced it as it's own evil and worked to wipe God out of the world completely.

Both murdered indiscriminately.
Neither appeared to have a moral compass.
Both refused to accept a higher power.
Both broke most every one of the 10 Commandments more than once.

Can we call it a draw and just accept both as the ultimate evils?

Answer 2

They're both in a class by themselves. There are a few differences, though. Hitler, at least, was organized evil -- he had policies and tended to run things through bureaucracies where in theory his worst ideas could be modified. In many ways Hitler was practical; he didn't do things on a whim. He also was relatively loyal to his friends.

Stalin, on the other hand, was pretty random in what he did and made "policies" up on the spot. He also ended up killing, imprisoning or torturing (all or three) most of his closest associates.

Furthermore, Hitler was in power only from 1933 (?) until 1945; Stalin was in power from the 20's through the 50's.

If you had to pick one, I'd go with Stalin. But just by a nose.

Answer 3

It's probably a moot question. Both were behind extremely nasty things that were done in their name and in the names of their states.
But if I had to pick one, I'd say Hitler. Hitler had no reason other than hatred and irrational prejudice to do the things he did. Stalin, on the other hand, took some real threats (how many enemies did the Soviets have at the time?) to extremely ruthless levels.
Based on that criteria, I'd give Hitler the nod for being the more evil of the two. But each was certainly a piece of work.

Answer 4

Hitler

Answer 5

Both were evil murderers. Stalin had his purges and sources show he had anywhere from 3 million to 60 million people killed or imprisoned.
Hitler had his own purge and had about 6 million Jews, gypsies, Hungarians, etc killed in his camps.
So which was worse? By the numbers, Stalin. As far as mode of deaths, it was Hitler. Stalin had people outright executed or many people simply disappeared in the 'Gulag Archipelago' region. Hitler on the other hand, had 6 million people gassed or tortured to death or experimented upon.
I am glad they are both dead. We have enough evil in this world with the likes of terrorism.

Answer 6

I would have to say Stalin even though Hitler is the most publicized, so to speak. He killed more than twice the amount of people than Hitler. He ordered purges, purges, and more purges because he was paranoid that people would take his power. Almost anyone who came close to him (in positions of power) took the risk of becoming his next victim along with his (the victim, that is) immediate family being eliminated. Yes, Stalin was THAT paranoid. When his son Yakov was captured by the Germans and offered to trade him in exchange for some of Russia's POWs, Stalin refused. Yep, that's how loving and kind he was (note the sarcasm).

That also doesn't count the number of people who died defending Russia in WW2. Soldiers were threatened with death if they deserted; basically, they'd die anyway, regardless of who killed them (the Germans or their fellow Russians).

Ok, I'd like to change my original argument. I believe both were equally evil and two pieces of filthy, hell-bound scum. Hitler would've killed more people if he lasted longer in WW2. He had the idea of a Jew-free world and would've gladly knocked off a few more million if the war went on. However, Stalin was indescriminate when it came to killing. It didn't matter WHAT faith someone was. What mattered was how big the threat someone posed to Stalin's rule. It didn't matter if they were atheist, Christian, Jew, etc. (though Stalin had an intense dislike for those who were religious).

I would suggest reading biographies of both individuals and do a little compare and contrast.

Answer 7

Stalin

Answer 8

This is a tough one. Both were maniacs. Both killed millions of people. Hitler tried to exterminate the Jews. Stalin had well over 40,000 officers in his own army slaughtered when he first came to power in order to be sure his "own loyal men" were advising and fighting for him. Subsequently, he had millions slaughtered in the Ukraine and in other areas of Russia wherever there was opposition to him. Hitler also slaughtered millions. Some were Germans; some were not. To distinguish between these two as to who was the more evil is impossible for me. They both were the devil incarnate.

Chow!!

Answer 9

History is written by the victors.
Judgement is passed by the winners.
Hitler is more infamous in Europe & USA because the facts of Stalins acts were shrouded by the cold war.
In terms of numbers of people killed directly or indirectly by these dictators, certainly Stalin is the most "evil."

But remember there were nuemrous atrocities committed by all sides in WW2.

And what about Truman? Is he not "evil" for ordering the explosion of two nuclear bombs that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilains. Or is his guilt white-washed because he brought the war to a end and he is on the victor's side that then wrote the history.

"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Hitler & Stalin had absolute power, it gave their ego's a chance to asset itself. But in their own minds they thought they were doing what must be done. Hitler also got roads and factories built - including the foundation of Volkswagen. Stalin's era left numerous architectural buildings that stand still now solid and majectic, while later eras building already collapse.

Genghis Khan is thought by history to be incredibly eveil bu tin Mongolia he is stil a hero, a great leader who civilized his country.

Who is to judge what is or what is not evil.

Perhaps there is a liitle bit of a Hitler or Stalin in each of us but we just have not had the opportuinity.

The so-called democracy that in prevalent in the world now is just a form of temporary dictatorship. With the power curtailed to limit the power lust of the leaders.

You question is naively innocent.

Answer 10

Hitler