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World's Worst Dictators
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King Leopold II
Second king of the Belgians. Succeeded his father to the throne on 17 Dec. 1865 and remained king until his death, 17 Dec. 1909. Initially set up Congo as a free state in 1885; however, Leopold essentially ran the Congo brutally, through a mercenary force, for personal gain. Extracted a fortune, initially by the collection of ivory, and after a rise in rubber prices in the 1890s by forcing natives to collect sap from rubber plants. His harsh regime was responsible for the death of millions. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II
27 January 1859 – 3 June 1941. Last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling 5 June 1888 to 9 Nov. 1918. Crowned in 1888 he dismissed the Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in 1890. Supported Austria in crisis of summer of 1914 that caused World War I. Blundered often, making major decisions on his own, and allowing his generals to dictate policy during World War I, ignoring civilian government. Ineffective war leader, lost support of the army, abdicated Nov. 1918, and fled to Netherlands. -
Czar Nicholas II
Last Emperor of Russia. Ruled 20 Oct. 1894 until 15 March 1917. His reign saw Imperial Russia go from being a great world power to economic and military collapse. Nicknamed Bloody Nicholas because of Khodynka Tragedy, Bloody Sunday, anti-Semitic pogroms, and his execution of political opponents. Approved mobilization of August 1914, the first fatal step into World War I, in which 3.3 million Russians would be killed. Abdicated after Feb. Revolution of 1917. Murdered by Bolsheviks 17 July 1918. -
Vladimir Lenin
Born 22 April 1870. Expelled from university, became professional revolutionary. While in Europe, became leader of 'Bolshevik' faction of Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party. In 1917, assisted by the Germans, hoping to undermine the Russian war effort, Lenin returned home and worked against provisional government that had overthrown tsarist regime. Eventually led October Revolution and USSR. Ruthless, but also pragmatic. Killed between 50- and 200,000 "enemies of the state." -
Joseph Stalin
Kill tally: Approximately 20 million, including up to 14.5 million starved to death. At least one million executed for political "offences". At least 9.5 million more deported, exiled or imprisoned in work camps. Other estimates place the number of deported at 28 million, including 18 million sent to the 'Gulag'. 1922 - Stalin takes charge of party administration, a position that allows him to develop his power base. After Lenin’s death, he consolidates power and progressively ousts opponents. -
Adolf Hitler
4/20/1889 - Born in Austria. Sept. 1919 - Hitler joins German Workers' Party. 4/1/20 - Hitler renames German Workers' Party the National Socialist German Workers' Party, or Nazi Party. 1/30/33 - Hitler named Chancellor of Germany. 11/9/38 - Nazis attack Jews during "Night of Broken Glass." 9/1/39 - Germany invades Poland, beginning WW II. 1/20/42 - Nazis formalize plans for "Final Solution of the Jewish Problem." 4/30/45 - Commits suicide. Responsible for 11 million deaths. -
Tojo Hideki
At least 20 million Chinese in the Second Sino-Japanese War were killed. About 15 million people killed in the Asia and Pacific regions during the Second World War, including over 11 million Chinese and nearly two million Japanese. In Nov. 1948, Tojo was put on trial as a war criminal. He was accused of instigating Japan's aggressive foreign policy in the early 1940's and of permitting the appalling abuse of prisoners-of-war, contrary to the Geneva Convention. Found guilty, and hanged 12/23/48. -
Hirota Koki
Japanese diplomat, politician, and foreign minister. Following Japan's surrender, found guilty of war crimes, sentenced to hang. Severity remains controversial; only civilian executed as a result of Tokyo trials. Main factor in death sentence was that he had information about the Nanjing Massacre. As Foreign Minister, Hirota received regular reports about military's atrocities, but lacked authority over offending military units. Condemned in failing to insist the Japanese Cabinet end atrocities. -
Yahya Khan
1969 - 31 March Yahya Khan assumes presidency after nationwide rioting. Constitution is suspended. 1971 - 21 Feb. army controls government. 3 Dec.Pakistan declares war on India. 6 Dec. India recognizes Bangladesh as an independent state. The conflict in the East is over fairly quickly but left dreadful toll. Number of Bengalis killed by Pakistan Army is between 200,000 and three million. Around 20 million have been displaced. 200 -to 400,000 women raped. East Pakistaon becomes Bangladesh. -
Pol Pot
4/19/25 – 4/15/98, leader of Cambodian communist movement Khmer Rouge; Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976–79. Attempt to "cleanse" the country resulted in 1.7–2.5 million deaths. Became leader of Cambodia in mid-1975. During time in power, imposed agrarian socialism, forcing urban dwellers to relocate to countryside to work in collective farms and projects. Effects of forced labor, malnutrition, poor medical care and executions resulted in the deaths of 21% of Cambodian population. -
Mao Zedong
Up to 45 million deaths from starvation during 'Great Leap Forward'. Tens of thousands killed and millions of lives ruined during 'Cultural Revolution'. Mao was concerned with post-1949 China. Revolution had replaced old elite with a new one. Mao thought a revolution of culture was required (Great Leap Forward) that would keep China in state of 'perpetual revolution' that served the majority. Traditional heritage was destroyed, huge number of Chinese citizens imprisoned, and social chaos. -
Kim il Sung
About three million killed in the Korean War. 600,000 to one million North Koreans needlessly starved to death due to the economic legacy of Kim's regime. (Some reports as many as three million starved.) Led North Korea from its founding in 1948 until death in 1994. During his tenure, he ruled the nation with autocratic power and established an all-pervasive cult of personality. Is designated in the constitution as the country's "Eternal President". His birthday is a public holiday. -
Saddam Hussein
March 2003, a coalition of countries led by U.S. and UK invaded Iraq to depose Saddam, citing his weapons of mass destruction and terror links. Iraq transitioned to democratic system. Captured 13 Dec. 2003, Saddam brought to trial under Iraqi interim government. 5 Nov. 2006, convicted of charges related to 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi'ites and sentenced to death by hanging; executed 30 Dec. 2006. Reports cite Saddam's army as responsible for 200,000 civilian deaths. -
Kim Jong il
Distanced himself from North Korea’s traditional allies, Russia and China, also instituted a “Military-First” policy, devoting majority of country’s resources to armed forces. Those policies, plus a cycle of droughts and floods, caused widespread famine in the 1990s and early 21st century. Huge food shipments from South Korea, Japan, and the U-S have been too late to save 200,000 to 3.5 million North Koreans. Kim has also faced international pressure over human rights abuses.
