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Mao China:

・Communist ideology

→"For the country!!!!"

→aim to advance China to catch up to the USSR and countries in the West

-Anti-rightist campaign

-Mao surrounded by yes-men

-First Five-Year plan

Highly dependent on the support from the USSR (structure of plan, resources)

-Second Five-Year plan

Focus on the steel industry

Socio-economic mobalization

→steel production

→collectivization (forcing the peasants to live in a community)

Mao was too inpatient? to reach his goals of developing China as an advanced nation, thus skipped the urgently needed steps to construct the base, which lead to corrupting/failing results (eg: great leap forward→famine→economic collapse)

Hitler Nazi-Germany:

・Fascism/expansionism ideology

→belief in racial superiority of the aryan race

→ultra nationalist beliefs (Germany is the best in the worlddddddddd)

(・National socialism ideology)

-militaristic mobalization

→economy-dependent on military spendings

-four-year plan

→dependent on imports

→decrease in unemployment rates (mostly successful)

Miyu, Mai, Rurina, Karen Shida

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states (Ryoka and Karen)

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states (Ryoka and Karen)

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NAZI GERMANY

●Reducing Unemployment and consolidating legitimacy

・Recich Labour Service (RAD)

・Construciton of the autobahn

・Rearmamanet

→ perception that Hitler restored economic stability

(Richard Evans: This economic savior was central to consolidating power)

=Effective

●Autarky and militarization as tools of power

・Gorling's Four-Year Plan (1936)

・Fostered the "guns before butter" ideology

→maintained control by framing sacrifices as a patriotic duty (industrial rearmament etc.), effectively suppressing opposition

(Ian Kershaw: Policies align with Nazi ideology, leading to national strength)

(Overly: But Germany continued to rely on imports)

=Somewhat effective

MAO CHINA

●Land reform and consolidation of rural support

・Agrarian Land reform (1950)

・Emphasize peasants as "revolutionary class"

→lead to execution or dispossession of millions of landlors

(Maurice Meisner: these policies transformed rural China into a strong foundation of CCP legitimacy)

(Dikotter: stresses the violent and coercive nature od these reforms)

=Not effective

●The Great Leap Forwards and the erosion of legitimacy

・The Great Leap Forward (1958-62)

・The Great Famine (1959-61)

→Aimed to industrialzie China but resulted in the death of 30-45 million people

(Frank Dikotter: famine was "the worst man-made disaster in history")

=Not effective

●Comparative evaluation

・Nazi Germany

Effective in preparing for war

→employment reduction, rearmament, and autarky reinforced legitimacy and strengthened Hitler’s grip on power

・Mao China

Not effective in consolidation

→land reform initially consolidated support but the Great Leap Forward severely undermined his authority, demonstrating the dangers of ideological radicalism in economic policy

●Conclusion

While economic policies played a critical role in both cases, their impact was far more effective in Nazi Germany, where short-term successes outweighed structural weaknesses, than in Mao’s China, where disastrous outcomes exposed the limits of authoritarian economic control

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Economic policies

(Hitler)

The policies of Hjalmar Schacht (1934-1937)

The New Plan 1934

Goering's Four-Year Plan (1935, 1936-1939)

(Mao)

First Five-Year Plan (1953-1957)

Great Leap Forward (1958-62)

Goals

Similarities

To increase self-sufficiency (autarky)

Strong emphasis on industrialisation to strengthen military/ideological goals

Unification of the country

Differences

(Hitler)

Recovery from the Great Depression

Fascist

Reduce unemployment

Restore national pride

Rearm Germany and build military strength

(Mao)

National communist

Transform China into an industrialised socialist state

Eliminate class divisions and private ownership

Effectiveness

(Hitler)

Unemployment dropped from 6 million (1933) to under 1 million (1936)

Economic revival boosted Nazi popularity and legitimacy

(Mao)

Industrial output nearly doubled

Infrastructure expanded (steel, coal, railways)

Complete economic disaster→grain production fell sharply

Resulted in widespread famine

Industries collapsed due to poor planning and false reporting

Conclusion

Both used economic policy to strengthen their authoritarian rule

Hitler achieved short-term success through militarised recovery and rearmament

Mao’s policies led to disastrous long-term consequences and mass famine

Both illustrate how ideology shaped economic direction and outcomes in authoritarian regimes

Hitler put a lot of money into the war

Signs of slowing down after a few years

Mao →big increase during the first 5-year plan

For the Great Leap Forward, not so much

People will tell Mao what he wants to hear, and do what Mao wants to see

Steel production products were rubbish

Famine, and many died

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states.

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states.

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Hitler's Goals

1. Living Space

2. Great Germany

3. Stabilize the German economy.

Policies

Hitler was not an economic planner, so he appointed Hjalmar Schacht as his Economic Minister.

New Plan (1934)

--> Reduce imports

--> Control foreign trade

--> Make trade deals with South-East Europe and Latin America

--> Lower unemployment

18-25-year-old men were required to join the National Labor Service.

Four-Year Plan (1936-9)

--> Make Germany an autarky (economically sufficient)

Led by Hermann Goering

DPOV: Some historians say that they eventually became dependent on imports, not effective.

Success

Unemployment dropped from 6 million (1933) to under 1 million (1939)

Rapid growth in heavy industry and armaments.

Prepared Germany for short-term military expansion.

Failure

Living standards stayed low (few consumer goods).

Autarky was never achieved --- Germany still relied on imports.

The economy became war-focused, unsustained long term.

Mao's Goal

1. Transform China into a socialist industrial nation.

2. Reduce dependence on foreign powers.

3. Rapidly modernize agriculture and industry.

First Five-Year Plan (1953-7)

--> Soviet-style plan focused on heavy industry and collectivization of farming.

Got help from the Soviet Union

Developed heavy industry (steel, coal, machinery)

Began forming agricultural cooperatives where peasants famed together instead of individually.

Effects

Industrial output nearly doubled.

Urban workers' employment rose.

Agriculture lagged behind

Depended heavily on Soviet loans and experts.

Great Leap Forward (1958-62)

--> Combined agriculture and industry in rural "communes" to boost production.

Around 25000 communes formed

Abolished private farming

Effects

Widespread famine - 20 to 3 million people died.

Eventually abandoned in 1962.

Success

The First Five-Year Plan improved industry and infrastructure.

Some progress in steel and coal production (early years)

Failure

The Great Leap Forward caused massive famine (20-30 million dead)

Poor quality steel and unrealistic targets.

Cultural Revolution destroyed education and economic stability.

Compare / contrast

Both policies failed.

Hitler focused on war.

Mao focused more on scoiety in China.

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Thesis:

While both Hitler and Mao aimed to strengthen and unify their nations through state-controlled, ideologically driven economies, Hitler’s policies prioritized rearmament and employment within a capitalist framework, achieving short-term economic revival, whereas Mao sought to create a classless, self-sufficient communist economy, which largely failed due to unrealistic planning and human cost.

Goals:

(Hitler)

Revive economy after the Great Depression (1930s).

Reduce unemployment and restore national confidence.

Rearmament to prepare for war and expansion.

Autarky (economic self-sufficiency) to avoid reliance on imports.

Ideological goal: strengthen the Volksgemeinschaft (“people’s community”) and eliminate perceived “unproductive” groups (e.g., Jews).

(Mao)

Transform China from an agrarian economy into an industrialized socialist state.

End class divisions through collectivization and nationalization.

Achieve self-sufficiency and independence from Soviet and Western models.

Mobilize masses to achieve rapid economic growth (ideology-driven).

Ideological goal: build a Communist utopia through equality and communal labor.

⇨Comparison:

Economic ideology: While Hitler's Nazi Germany was state-directed capitalism, Mao's planned socialism.

Primary goal: While Hitler's goal was more on the military and national revival side, Mao's goals were to transform China into a more communist state.

Approach: While Hitler aimed for industrial expansion through rearmament, Mao implemented agricultural collectivization and industrialization.

Self-sufficiency: Nazi Germany aimed for autarky within Europe. However, Mao aimed for autarky within China.

Methods and policies:

(Hitler):

Public works programs — Autobahn, housing, railways (National Labor Service).

Rearmament and conscription — military expansion absorbed unemployment.

Four-Year Plan (1936) — aimed at autarky and war readiness (synthetic oil, rubber).

Corporatist control — private property allowed but under state supervision.

Labor control — banned trade unions, replaced by German Labor Front (DAF).

(Mao):

First Five-Year Plan (1953–1957):

Soviet model — heavy industry focus, successful early growth.

Collectivization (1955–1956):

Private farms merged into cooperatives, then into people’s communes.

Great Leap Forward (1958–1962):

Aim: rapid industrialization & communal agriculture.

Features: backyard furnaces, mass mobilization, deep-ploughing, exaggerated grain reports.

Result: massive famine and industrial decline.

Second Five-Year Plan (GLF period): catastrophic failure; production targets not met.

Comparison:

state control: Hitler was highly successful in the direction of private sector, while Mao prioritized state ownership of all means

Focus: Hitler focused on rearmament, while Mao focused more on the combinationof agriculture and industry.

mobilization: Hitler's propaganda was successful in enabling mobilization for militaristic means. However, Mao was successful through ideological enthusiasm.

Effectiveness:

(Hitler):

Short-term success:

Unemployment dropped from ~6 million (1933) to <1 million (1939).

Industrial output doubled.

Boosted national morale and unity.

Long-term failure:

Economy dependent on rearmament — unsustainable in peacetime.

Led to war and eventual destruction (WWII).

(Mao):

Initial success (First FYP):

Industrial output grew 18% annually.

Urban living standards initially improved.

Great Leap Forward failure:

Agricultural collapse, famine (20–40 million deaths).

Economic decline and social disillusionment.

Aftermath:

Mao’s prestige fell; pragmatic leaders (e.g., Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping) reintroduced limited market mechanisms.

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Similarity

Goals:

reduce unemployment and mobilize the population; push self-sufficiency; use plans and propaganda to align the economy with regime aims.

Methods:

central targets, large public works or mass campaigns; priority to heavy industry over consumer goods; suppression of independent labor.

Contrast

Ownership and ideology:

Nazi Germany kept private firms but put them under tight state direction for war aims. Mao replaced private ownership with state ownership and rural collectivization to eliminate class differences.

Priority:

Hitler prioritized rearmament and war readiness. Mao prioritized class transformation and a leap in agriculture and steel through communes.

Nazi Germany:

Goals: end unemployment; rearm; reduce import dependence; prepare for war.

Policies: public works and conscription from 1935; Mefo bills to finance rearmament; Four Year Plan from 1936 for autarky and synthetic substitutes; price and wage controls.

Effectiveness: unemployment fell sharply by 1936; rearmament surged and strategic industries grew; living standards uneven and consumer goods tight; external balance strains and dependence on future conquest show limited sustainability.

PRC:

Goals: socialist transformation of ownership; rapid industrialization; rural equality and grain procurement for cities.

Policies: First Five Year Plan 1953–1957 with Soviet aid focused on heavy industry; collectivization then People’s Communes from 1958; Great Leap Forward for backyard steel and grain surpluses; partial retrenchment 1962–1965; Cultural Revolution disruptions after 1966.

Effectiveness: early urban industry expanded and basic industrial base formed; agriculture weak even before 1958; Great Leap Forward caused a collapse in output and a nationwide famine with very high mortality; recovery in the early 1960s, but growth and distribution remained unstable.

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Similarity

State-led Economic Control

・Both regimes rejected the idea of a free market economy and instead placed the state or the Party in strong control of all economic activities through centralized planning.

→The Nazi regime adopted a form of "controlled capitalism,"

→The Mao era pursued a completely "centrally planned economy."

Pursuit of Self-Sufficiency

・Both regimes are seeking to eliminate dependence on foreign countries. Their goal was to build a system capable of maintaining and strengthening the nation even under economic isolation.

→The Nazis promoted Autarky

→The Mao China emphasized Self-Reliance

Priority on Heavy Industry and Military Power

・Both regimes' resources and capital were concentrated in the heavy industry sector. Economic activity was viewed not as a means to improve living standards, but as a tool to achieve national objectives.

→The Nazi regime prioritized rearmament,

→The Mao China focused on socialist industrialization.

Difference

Ownership of the Means of Production

・The Nazis Germnay

→Maintained private ownership in principle, but placed it under strict government control, with priority to military production, control of prices, and wages.

・The Mao China

→Abolished private ownership and turned everything into state or collective property.

Initial Economic Stimulus

・The Nazis Germnay

→Focused on demand creation through expansionary fiscal and monetary policies.

・The Mao China

→Adopted a Soviet-style Five-Year Plan and implemented land reform and collectivization to fundamentally transform the social structure.

Y.N

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states.

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Compare and contrast the goals and effectiveness of the economic policies of two authoritarian states.

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Introduction

Body Paragraph

Compare 1: Centralized State Control of the Economy

Hitler

Four-Year Plan (1936)

→ Controlled industries through state direction; private ownership continued but served state goals (e.g., armaments, heavy industry)

Mao

First Five-Year Plan (1953-57)

→ Soviet style central planning

→ State owned nearly all industries; emphasis on steel, coal, and machineries

⇒ Both subordinated economic decisions to political control, prioritizing national goals over market forces

Compare 2: Pursuit of Autarky (Self-sufficiency) and National Strength

Hitler

Sought autarky to prepare for war and avoid reliance on foreign imports

Promoted substitutes like synthetic fuel and rubber

Mao

Sought economic independence from both Western capitalism and Soviet influence

eg.) The Great Leap Forwar (1958-62) aimed for rural self-sufficiency through communes and "backyard furnances"

⇒ Both associated economic independence with political sovereignty and national strength. (Although Mao's vision was rooted in socialism rather than militarism)

Contrast 1: Ideological Motivation

Hitler

Economic policy served militarism and nationalism

→ recovery and rearmament to restore Germany's strength and prepare Lebensraum

Mao

Aimed for classes socialism and a creation of a "new man"

eg) Collectivization, the GLF

→ Driven by Maxist-Leninist and utopian goals rather than practical economics

⇒ Hitler: fascism / Mao: communist (some nationalist aspects)

Contrast 2: Effectiveness and Consequences

Hitler

Unemployment fell from ~6 million (1933) to <0.5 million (1939)

Industrial output and GDP surged

→ however, growth relied on rearmament and exploitation, unsustainable in long-term

Mao

Early success in the Five-Year Plan

→ Although the GLF caused famine and the deaths of 20-30 million

Economic recovery required later reforms under Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping

⇒ Hitler achieved short-term stability and regime legitimacy; Mao's policies largely failed economically and weakened his political standing

Conclusion

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Hitler

・4-year plan

goalーAccelerate economic self-sufficiency (Autarky) and rearmament for war preparations, and strengthen war-fighting capabilities.

contentー

Rearmament

Rapid expansion of the army, navy, and air force.

Construction of arms factories and mass production of weapons and ammunition.

Industrial Expansion

Development of steel, coal, and chemical industries (especially synthetic fuel and rubber).

Development of synthetic materials to reduce dependence on foreign imports.

Agricultural Policy

Strengthening of food self-sufficiency (especially grain and livestock).

Policies to support farmers and increase productivity.

State Control

The economy was tightly controlled by the state.

Hermann Göring was appointed as the director and given the power to set production targets for industries.

resultーMilitary power was significantly strengthened, but the economy suffered from overheating and resource shortages, necessitating expansion through war.

Mao

・5-year plan

goalーAdopting a Soviet-style centrally planned economy and rapidly developing China's heavy industry with Soviet technical assistance

contentー

1. Industrial Development

Priority is given to heavy industries, including steel, coal, machinery, and electricity.

Technical and financial assistance from the Soviet Union.

Construction of 156 major industrial projects (steel plants, power stations, etc.).

2. Agricultural Collectivization

Individual farmers were merged into mutual-aid teams and cooperatives.

Production was managed by the state to support urban industrialization.

3. Transportation and Infrastructure

Development of railways, roads, and communication networks.

4. Social and Educational Reform

Strengthening of education to train skilled technicians and engineers.

Expansion of the urban working class and promotion of socialist ideology.

resultーIndustrial production increased significantly, but agricultural output remained sluggish, widening the gap between urban and rural areas.

Similarities

Differences