I'm baaaaack! *people running for their lives* Ha ha. Okay, so I was sitting in history class the other day (yes Stooge: "Wampa teacher!") and my teacher was telling us about Hitler (we're learning-for what seems like the zillionth time-about WWII). I began to think about the parallels between Hitler and the Emperor.
Apparently, people were drawn to Hitler because he was very charismatic. He was not originally viewed as a threat (well a few people thought he was but not many). Very few would have guessed that he would go on to be responsible for the brutal imrisonment, torture, and slaughter of millions. While I wouldn't call Palpy "charismatic," people liked him and respected him. He wasn't threatening at all.
They were both after "uuuunliiiiiimited poooowwwweeeerrrr!" The problem was that few figured this out until it was too late. The Jedi Order was clueless, and so were most of the senators (minus the ones that signed the Petition of the 2,000 or whatever - especially those that Bail, Mon, and Padme met with). The outcome would have been much different in both cases if boundaries had been enforced earlier. Hitler demanded/seized the Rhineland, the Sudetenland, all of Czechoslovakia, and Austria, and it wasn't until he finally invaded Poland that the world said, "Uh uh, stop that or else." They handed him the Sudetenland on a silver platter in order to prevent war! If the Republic had done that for the Seperatists.....well wait, Palpy would stiil probly be in control, huh, since Dooku was his apprentice.... Well there goes that argument! What was I saying? Oh yeah. By the time we meet the Rebel Alliance in Episode 4, it's been like, what, 20 years since Palpatine became emperor? He plenty of time to consolidate his power and start building the Death Star. Imagine what the outcome of WWII could have been if Germany had invented the atomic bomb before the U.S.!!! Germany probly would have been much easier to defeat if the world had fought back earlier, and likewise the Empire probly could have been defeated more easily had somebody done something earlier - perhaps it might not have even come about! But then we wouldn't really have a saga, now, would we?
Back to giving the Sudetenland to Germany, Palpatine was also literally handed more power. Of course, he was all, "I really don't want it and I promise to give it up....eventually....," but he took it and it continued to increase.
Now I could be wrong about this one so feel free to correct me. I have my history book with me but not the movies or novels. Didn't both Hitler and Palpy say that their empires would last 1,000 years or so? I seem to recall that in the ROTS novel.....
Both were elected to make a change in the government. The German government was really weak before Hitler came along, so having him for a dictator would supposedly bring stability and stuff. I think that was one of the reasons was liked but I can't remember for sure. Palpatine was elected in part to "bring an end to corruption" and stuff.
Also, both tried to annihilate a race/order. Hitler wanted to wipe out the Jews primarily, but also other stuff. He was all "the Aryans are the master race" and stuff. Palpatine wanted to destroy the Jedi Order and eventually the Rebel Alliance. Even the cute little younglings!!!! What a loser!
Finally, both went a little loopy by the end of their careers. Well, Palpy wasn't exactly insane, but seriously, he was kinda....you know....nuts. All creepy-eyed and cackling and shrivled with hate and stuff.
If anybody can find any other similarities, feel free to share them! Before I go, I thought I'd let ya'll know one strange Hitler fact: did ya know that originally wanted to be a painter, but he stunk?!?! Yeah, I thought it was weird too! Okay, well thanks for listening!