Dictator
How to seize power and stay control
Dumitru Ghereg

© Dumitru Ghereg, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0065-8519-5

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

THE PREFACE

Do you dream of unlimited power, immense wealth, and crowds of enthusiastic admirers? Become a dictator! Absolute power. Come on, you really want it. You just don’t know how to get it. But I do! There’s a manual – about the tactics used by the most infamous dictators in history to rise to power. And each of them is unique in their own way. Are you worried about the constitution? The opposition is unpunished, opposing your decisions and criticizing you in the media? Tired of seeing marches and protests directed against you? The solution is within easy reach – change the system to something more convenient. Contrary to popular belief, becoming a dictator is not that hard. Centuries before the infamous rulers of Lydia, Sicily, or Magadha proved this, the orchestration of leadership by countries in Latin America, Africa, and even European nations followed.

Not everyone has the ambition to become a ruler, so in order to become one, you first need to be prepared. Most future dictators came from families already in power, so they absorbed the feeling that they were destined to rule with their mother’s milk. For example, Babur was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, and Somoza was the son of wealthy and influential landowners. Their ambitions were inherited. But don’t worry! You can also become a dictator without having any blue blood. Samuel Doe, who came to power in Liberia by gutting and dismembering President William Richard Tolbert in 1980, was just a simple sergeant. François Duvalier terrorized Haiti for nearly two decades with a private militia – he was a doctor and a journalist from a relatively poor middle class. And Idi Amin, the “Butcher” of Uganda, was the son of a witch from the Kakwa tribe.

But there’s one small catch: on this path, you often have to make unpleasant decisions. Though no one said ruling was easy. Want to prove it? When I say the word “tyrant,” what comes to mind? A cruel and despotic ruler? No, that’s too simple. Tyranny is a form of rule for people who want results. Look at history: freedom is not the norm. We like it when we are ruled. When you live in difficult times, you want someone to come and say, “I alone can fix everything.” The most successful dictators in history do exactly that – they transform their societies from top to bottom. Follow them step by step, and you too can do it.

There’s a dictator’s manual. If you want to become a dictator, you just need to do a few things. That’s it. But before you do anything, you need to rise above the crowd and take control into your hands. This is where our story begins. About a loser, a landscape painter, who became the most powerful, bloodthirsty villain on earth.

Chapter I SEIZE POWER

LESSON 1. BREAK OUT OF THE CROWD

By the age of twenty, Hitler was a failure, nearly penniless, without friends, and an unsuccessful artist. How did it happen that this man came to hold such power – in this vast country, in the heart of Europe, in the 20th century? The truth is simple: if you want to rule, you must first believe that you can do it. So how did Adolf Hitler become the Adolf Hitler we know? And what lessons can you learn when you come to power?

“Break out of the crowd” – this phrase embodies the desire for individuality, independence, and liberation from social constraints. It emphasizes the wish to stand out, to be yourself, and not to conform to the standards or expectations of the majority. When a person decides to “break out of the crowd,” it may mean the desire to reject conformity and find their own unique path. It is a call for independent thinking, making your own decisions, and having the courage to follow your beliefs. This is where every dictator begins.

LESSON 2. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Dictators tend to have a kind of obsessive confidence in their abilities – without it, they cannot succeed. Often, they see themselves as liberators, convinced that only they can save the world and make it better. In other words, they are blinded, and as you will soon see, Hitler was not the only one who thought this way.

According to North Korean legend, at the moment of Kim Jong Il’s birth, the sky was illuminated by a new shining star. A double rainbow appeared, and winter turned into spring. Saddam Hussein claimed that he was anointed by Allah to rule Iraq eternally and spoke about how he avoided death – as proof of divine favor. Dictator François Duvalier claimed that he was eternal and that the forces of voodoo had awakened within him. Who can say this isn’t true? But where does the belief in one’s own supernatural power come from? In 1918 – sixteen years before Hitler became a dictator – Hitler claimed that he found it in the most unexpected place: in the blood-soaked trenches of World War I.

One day, while on guard duty, he heard a strange voice. The voice said: “Go.” Several of his comrades died on the spot, but Hitler emerged unscathed. Later, near the end of the war, Hitler and his regiment were caught in clouds of mustard gas. When Hitler regained consciousness in the hospital, the pastor delivered the bad news: World War I was over, and Germany had surrendered. The shock caused him to lose his sight entirely – a case of hysterical blindness. And suddenly, in the midst of despair, it seemed to him that he could clearly see the future of his nation. From that moment, Hitler no longer doubted his destiny. Hitler once said: “I walk with the certainty of a lunatic towards my fate.” Once he realized his mission, he was like on autopilot. Nothing could distract him from this goal. This is the kind of confidence any future dictator needs to move forward. Though some use other methods.

A potential dictator is usually extremely narcissistic. He truly believes himself to be the center of the universe, and everything must happen according to his will. This is what sets him apart from ordinary people. Perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. But before you realize your destiny, you must overcome a few obstacles: You don’t have followers yet. To begin your rise to power, you need something that will stir people’s souls. There is one surefire way to do this…

LESSON 3. SELL INDIGNATION

In an ideal world, society should not follow a strong hand or a tyrant. But look around – people are angry and looking for someone to blame. The talent of dictators lies in understanding the nature of grievance (which is already building up) and presenting themselves as the way to deal with it, to take revenge on those you are angry with right now.

Do you want to grab people’s attention? The script is clear: show that their enemies are your enemies and that you are the one who will destroy them. Just like these leaders did. From a young age, future Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gave passionate speeches against the Western-backed monarchy and was embraced as a hero when he overthrew it. The father of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, became famous when he reminded his people of their suffering and the humiliations inflicted by the occupying Japanese army. And when Idi Amin came to power, he turned the people’s disappointment against their former colonial master – Britain.

After World War I, Germany experienced hyperinflation and mass unemployment. People were handing over bundles of money to buy a loaf of bread. Among the disillusioned Germans, a 30-year-old Adolf Hitler appeared. He was about to take an important step in his rise to power. Munich, 1919. Adolf Hitler – an unemployed artist with a couple of marks in his pocket and a firm understanding of when everything went wrong. And who is to blame?

Hitler joins army intelligence. His first task is to observe meetings of the anti-Semitic right-wing group, the German Workers’ Party. His superiors think that Hitler will lay low, take notes, and report back to headquarters. But Hitler was never strong as an executor. Years of anger and frustration explode outward. Hitler speaks out against the conspiracy orchestrated by Jews. They are oppressing the proud German people. Now, before we continue, let’s listen to the conspiracy theory that Hitler promoted. Hitler claimed that financiers on Wall Street and communists from Moscow were part of one large Jewish conspiracy. It sounds absurd, but this is what Hitler convinces the German people of. Whether absurd or not, Hitler’s words strike a chord.

Becoming a member of the party, Hitler hones his oratory skills. The content of his speeches is largely hate, with the idea of the need to “cleanse” Germany of Jews. That Germany is crushed and humiliated, but it has pride. Germany must rise again. Soon, Hitler becomes the leader of the party, and it gets a new name – the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, known as the NSDAP. Now, Hitler has a platform to express his outrage and a dedicated group of followers who hang on every word. Many Germans realized: he was saying what they thought in secret but dared not say aloud.

Why does this work so well? Because you allow people to be themselves. Shared grievance unites people, making it easier for them to come together. They have solidarity, and they have a strong leader – one who leads them against a minority or an external threat. It’s hard to believe that people can so quickly blame others for their misfortune, right? Let’s not pretend that in the 1920s, Germans were worse than we are today. If you genuinely feel that there is an enemy out there, you want your politicians to do something about it. It is very easy to sit back and say: “I would never fall for the charm of a tyrant like Hitler.” But you would fall for it, believe me. However, to achieve absolute power, you need more than just a convincing message. You have to sell the message – and this manual will be your guide.

LESSON 4. BE FROM THE PEOPLE

As a dictator, you will become the face of your nation, and how you present that face will depend solely on you. At this early stage, the manual offers specific advice on how to create your image. Show the people that you are one of them. Need examples? Italian dictator Benito Mussolini proudly called himself “a man of the people,” often recalling his humble roots: that he was the son of a blacksmith from a small town. At the beginning of his rule, Idi Amin traveled around Uganda in an open jeep and was famous for happily playing the accordion at public events. Muammar Gaddafi openly demonstrated his Bedouin roots: he dressed in tribal clothing and always lived in a tent, even while traveling.

Who can better embody the nation’s dreams and transform them into reality than one who feels the same as the people, who dreams the same dreams as the people? A distinctive feature of successful dictators is that they achieve complete unity with their people. They step forward and say, “I am you, you are me, we are one collective organism.” Hitler often said this in his speeches. Now that you’ve become a true man of the people, it’s time to think about the small details. Hitler didn’t dress lavishly – he always wore a uniform. He came out of the trenches of World War I. He believed that war shapes a person. This helped; it attracted the masses and secured their support.

What about his mustache? Something made him change his appearance. In the notes of writer Alexander Moritz Frey, there’s a description of how Adolf Hitler acquired his characteristic “toothbrush” mustache, which became an inseparable part of his image. According to Frey’s account, during World War I, the future Führer, who was serving in the German army, was ordered to trim his thick Prussian mustache so it wouldn’t interfere with wearing a gas mask. This was something all soldiers had to go through. Mustaches were only allowed for military personnel of certain ranks. Frey’s frontline notes, which he wrote while serving with Hitler during World War I, were included in a new biography of the writer. Its author, Stefan Ernsting, found them in the archive of a small German town, Marbach. These notes had never been published before. Another cultural historian, Ron Rosenbaum, claims that Hitler didn’t wear the “toothbrush” mustache until the end of 1919, despite photographic materials as evidence. Before the “toothbrush” mustache, before World War I, Hitler wore the popular style of mustache at the time, known as the “Kaiser mustache” (which was worn by Wilhelm II, the German Emperor). Maybe Hitler never thought that this would pave his way to immortality, but sometimes a future tyrant just gets lucky. Eventually, the classic small mustache appeared. This style was worn by lower-middle-class men across Europe. What did Hitler show? “I am just like you!”

Now that you have strengthened your bond with the common people, you feel that a date with destiny is near. But don’t rush. If you want to enter history, you need to reach a deeper level – to penetrate into the subconscious itself.

LESSON 5. POPULARIZE YOUR MOVEMENT

The Nazi Party grew quickly, but alongside them, there were dozens of right-wing parties, all vying for power. Like with any product, to make your movement stand out, you need a great marketing strategy – and Hitler was a born advertiser. Hitler understood the power of imagery; he knew the power of branding. You need not just a person – you need symbols that will embody the idea. And when it comes to symbols, you must admit, they are incredibly powerful. There is no more recognizable brand than the swastika in a white circle on a red flag. It’s probably the most powerful symbol that has ever existed on the planet.

But as convincing as the right symbol may be, your real strength lies in the people, and they must be properly dressed. Hitler read this page of the manual and chose the brown shirt. The very act of having a uniform is important. Now you are part of something bigger than yourself. This was very important, very meaningful for the German psyche. This uniform signified duty, obedience, and loyalty. In other words, when you wear the uniform, you are part of a whole; you’re on a team. And who doesn’t want to be on a team?

Obedience is undoubtedly one of the main goals that all tyrants strive for. The reason they sometimes succeed is astonishing: they manage to convince their followers that, in reality, it’s not obedience, but unity. Your growing movement gains strength. Soon, it will be impossible to ignore. Hitler actively involved people in this “luxurious” magnificence: the image of the swastika, people marching in uniforms, torches at rallies, passionate speeches – pure temptation.

“If we want to be together, if we want to participate in this play – let’s join.” It sounds funny, but offering a good show and sharp speeches doesn’t mean your rise to power is close. You need to expand your reach, and this will depend on the right personnel decisions.

LESSON 6. CREATE A TEAM

No one rules alone not Idi Amin, nor Louis XIV, who said, “I am the state.” When it comes to seizing power, you’ll need a team you can trust to have your back. Here’s the proof: Muammar Gaddafi’s inner circle helped him carry out a coup against the Libyan king and form a government. He would rule for nearly 40 years. Saddam Hussein relied on family members and people from his tribe they formed the core of his support base. Joseph Stalin brought his key allies into the Central Committee. This allowed him to eliminate all rivals and establish full control.

But when you form a team to protect your power, not everyone can make the cut. Like any leader, you need people with the right skill set to bring your ideas to life: experienced organizers – to effectively manage and expand your movement; ruthless military leaders – to recruit others and follow your orders to the letter; reliable assistants – to stick to your tight schedule and record your speeches for posterity. You also need a true hero – to impress the wealthy. Revolution doesn’t come cheap. And of course, you must keep an eye out for new talents.

But as the movement grows, some may be tempted to challenge you. Always remember, above all, you need people whose loyalty you can rely on. And Hitler could always count on this guy, who became his most devoted follower. Joseph Goebbels adored Hitler. After hearing a speech by him at some event, he was thrilled and simply said, “Yes, he is the one.” Goebbels understood the power of modern media, cinema, and control over them. He grasped the strength of suggestion and repetition. Goebbels became his Minister of Propaganda. Of course, talent is important, but what truly matters is that your followers always put you first, even when times are tough. Goebbels was truly loyal. In the end of 1945, in the bunker, he and his wife poisoned their six children, and then he poisoned himself because he couldn’t imagine a world without Hitler. That’s loyalty.

If you followed the playbook to seize power – you defined your divine mission, harnessed the anger of your people, created the image of a common man, and chose a memorable symbol for your movement – now you have a loyal inner circle. But to make the final step toward power, you need the opportunity to take your shot. And when it comes, don’t miss.

LESSON 7. KNOW WHEN TO STRIKE

Pressure is constantly rising. Now time is everything for you. And you must have patience before you rush into attack, and the ability to play the long game, to wait. Trust me, and your patience will be rewarded. I will prove it to you! When Saddam Hussein was the vice president of Iraq, he spent 10 years creating a secret service loyal to him, and only then did he use it to seize power. Joseph Stalin spent seven long years working closely with Lenin before the “father of the new Russia” put him in charge. The leader of Uganda, Idi Amin, patiently recruited people from his Kakwa tribe into the army, and later they helped him overthrow the president. Hitler nearly ruined everything! He missed this lesson and rushed in.

In 1923, 11 years before Hitler would become a dictator, the Beer Hall Putsch took place. Hitler organized a mad, ill-thought-out coup. Essentially, he tried to take the Nazis to the streets of Munich, capture the Bavarian political leaders as hostages, and force them to give up power. It was poorly planned: as soon as they left the beer hall, they came under police fire. This was a huge mistake. Hitler was found guilty of treason and sentenced to five years in Landsberg prison. He was written off. The press worldwide expected that Hitler would soon fade from public life. And he did disappear. You wouldn’t hear from him again. Well, he was now with one of his most loyal aides, Rudolf Hess. It was Hess who convinced him to start writing a sort of manifesto, which became the famous book. Nine months later, he was released from prison. But this didn’t immediately change Hitler’s fate. Things were getting worse. The Roaring Twenties were a time of self-expression, opportunities: how people dressed, their lifestyle, and women became more liberated. It was amazing.

The last thing a budding tyrant needs is a happy population. The twenties were calm. For Hitler, this was a political struggle. But, fortunately for him, good times don’t last forever. In October 1929, the American stock market crashed, and markets worldwide followed its example. Soon after the start of the depression, the Nazi Party began to gain traction. Before the Great Depression, there were no signs that they would become the leading party. July 1932 became the time of the Nazi Party’s greatest popularity at 37%, and Hitler, of course, became Chancellor.

Hitler’s power, when he assumed office, was not absolute; he still had a president over him. He had to seize every opportunity to strengthen his newly acquired power. And nothing helps more than a good crisis. The Reichstag fire gave him the chance to strike. What could be worse than watching the heart of your government burn to the ground? And yet, when Hitler appeared before the people, he seemed not so shocked but rather strangely excited. “You are witnesses to the beginning of a new era in the history of Germany,” he tells the reporter. He rushes to the editorial office of the Nazi Party’s official newspaper and works there until dawn. The next day, the headlines accuse the Communists of setting fire to the Reichstag. Although there is another version of what happened: many believe that the fire was actually set by the Nazis themselves – on Hitler’s orders – to gain more sympathy for their cause. Ignoring the rumors, Hitler demands that the ministers sign a decree he prepared, turning Germany into a police state under Nazi control. He then presents it to President Paul von Hindenburg. Von Hindenburg cannot handle the pressure from Hitler or the severe crisis. The official decree grants Hitler wide powers: to imprison opponents, dissolve all political parties except for the Nazis, and muzzle the press.

Hitler sought any opportunity to end civil liberties, crush the opposition – and he found it. Potential dictators instinctively understand: when people are threatened, they inevitably seek a strong, authoritarian leader and they support a strong man. The stage is set, and now it’s only a matter of time. Seventeen months later, President von Hindenburg dies, and Adolf Hitler becomes both Chancellor and President of Germany. Just 16 years after realizing his fate in the trenches of World War I. And this is just the beginning.

To those who have come this far, congratulations: you have created a movement and seized control. But now, let’s move on to the bad news: you are no longer the outsider. You are the leader. And that means you now have a giant target on your back. So how do you consolidate your power and keep your rivals in check? Let’s continue the path of the dictator and let Saddam Hussein answer the question that every new and vulnerable dictator faces: how do you keep the wolves at bay?

Chapter II CRUSH YOUR RIVALS

So, as you can see, if you strictly follow the dictator’s manual, you can break free from obscurity and gain control over your nation. Well, believe it or not, seizing power is the easiest part. From day one, you will be surrounded by enemies and treacherous rivals. They will try to quickly, and most likely through force, end your regime. This lesson was learned by one of history’s most famous leaders through his own experience. Gaius Julius Caesar was assassinated by former allies less than two years after declaring himself dictator for life. Too far? How about Laurent-Désiré Kabila from the Congo – he was killed by one of his own children, a soldier who had defected. Then there’s Samuel Kanyon Doe from Liberia – he was captured by a group of rivals, tortured, and murdered on camera.

But you can avoid such a fate if you manage to put potential rivals in their place. And no one did this better than the “Baghdad Butcher.” Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq for 24 years and never forgot the mantra that all dictators must follow: “Kill or be killed.” Saddam Hussein was an “animal”: his way of staying in power was simple – anyone he even remotely suspected of being an adversary had to die. But before we learn how Saddam expertly used the manual to always stay one step ahead of his rivals, here are some facts about how he rose to the top.

Fact 1: Young Saddam was a thug. From an early age, Saddam believed in power. When he was young, he carried a metal rod with him. He used it to threaten, intimidate others, and even tortured small animals.

Fact 2: At the age of 20, Saddam joined the Ba’ath Party and became a key figure. The Ba’ath Party, founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and Zaki al-Arsuzi in 1947, espoused the ideology of Ba’athism, a synthesis of Arab socialism and pan-Arabism. The party had influence in many Arab countries. In 1963, the Ba’athists were able to seize power in Iraq through a military coup, but their regime was overthrown just months later. That same year, the Ba’athists took power in Syria following the March 8 Revolution, which marked the beginning of the party’s long rule in that country.

Saddam participated in an attempt to assassinate Iraqi leader Abdel Karim Qasim in 1959, which earned him significant points within the Ba’ath Party. After the coup, one of his cousins, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, became president. Saddam was appointed vice president, but it was clear he was meant for something more. He served as vice president for almost ten years, during which he forged alliances and became close to various members of the government. One day, Saddam went to Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and said, “You’re getting old. I’ve heard your health is not great. It’s time for you to retire.” In other words, you have a choice – die or peacefully hand over power. The next day, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr announced his resignation.

Now you know how Saddam came to power. Let’s talk about how he kept it. And let’s begin with the first critical period for any tyrant – when you must show that there is a new sheriff in town.

LESSON 8. ESTABLISH DOMINANCE

Dictatorships have certain rhythms. Immediately after seizing power, their position is very unstable. To remain in power, you must always be on guard. You must ensure that any potential rival is under strict control and knows their place. Rivals will include some of your earliest and closest allies with dangerous ambitions. Any weakness you show is always a signal to your rivals: “Yes, this guy is vulnerable!” These friends, who once supported you in good times, now wait for their moment to overthrow you. Don’t give them a chance. These guys didn’t give them a chance. All the generals of the Great March of Mao were dead within a few years. Almost all those who fought alongside Fidel Castro during the Cuban revolution were gone within two years. And what about Joseph Stalin’s first comrades in the USSR? They all disappeared rather quickly. But Saddam outdid them all. He made an unexpected move. One of Saddam’s friends told him that there were people who were grumbling. They were unhappy about the removal of al-Bakr from power. So Saddam invited all members of the Ba’ath Party to attend a congress. Saddam showed up with his famous cigar and announced, “There are people in this room who are against my leadership.” Then a man named Mashadi, a high-ranking Ba’ath Party member whom everyone held in high regard, stood up. He delivered a rehearsed speech. In this speech, Mashadi confessed that he was plotting a coup or conspiracy against the leadership of Iraq, including Saddam Hussein.

The conspiracy was entirely fabricated. Mashadi was tortured. Saddam brought Mashadi’s wife and daughters into prison and told him that he had a choice: either sit and watch as the guards first rape his wife and daughters and then kill them, or confess. Mashadi chose the latter. Mashadi began to list the names of Ba’ath Party members who, according to him, were also part of the conspiracy. A man would immediately approach these people, dressed in civilian clothes from the security service, and escort them out of the room. Some of the men begged, “Please, no, no!” It was a strange sight: pretended loyalty mixed with fear. Fear could be seen in the eyes of many of these people. They knew that their name could be called at any moment. Beyond the conference room, party members learned their fate. More than 20 people were sentenced to death, while others were sent to prison. They thought they were lucky – until they were forced to execute their comrades themselves. Was it the action of a sadist? Perhaps. But people had no more doubts: the new leader of Iraq was willing to do anything to protect his power. And just in case someone still hadn’t understood, the video of this session was sent out to the world – sent to all Iraqi embassies abroad. The message was clear: Look at what happens to those who betray the regime and their leader. This is the end that awaits them. What could be better to start a new era? Now that your rivals know what you’re capable of, they will have no choice but to accept it. But how will you ensure that you’ve won?

LESSON 9. BE EVERYWHERE

To survive as a tyrant, you need eyes, ears, and muscles you can rely on everywhere. To prevent any threat to your power, the dictator has only one effective method: to observe, lurking in the shadows. That is why every dictator’s best friend is an efficient and ruthless secret police.

During the “Great Terror” of the late 1930s, Joseph Stalin’s secret police, the NKVD, arrested and executed millions of so-called “enemies of the people.” They were accused of opposing Stalin and his regime. In Uganda, Idi Amin secured loyalty through his State Research Bureau. It was staffed by members of his tribe, as well as local criminals and foreign mercenaries. Haitian dictator “Papa Doc” Duvalier earned the nickname “Tonton Macoute,” or “Boogeyman.” This character from local folklore kidnaps and eats disobedient children. The idea of creating a secret police force emerged in Iraq in 1964 when Saddam helped establish the “Jihaz Hanin” – the security service. After becoming president, Saddam created a special department: a secret police force entirely made up of his family members and those close to them. They were all connected by blood and a vow of loyalty to Saddam Hussein. In Iraq during the 1970s, everyone knew these people. They drove similar cars, wore similar clothes, and even had matching mustaches. That was the entire secret part. But no matter how much power your secret police have, you’ll need something else to show that there’s nowhere to hide: a reliable network of informants. In Iraq, Saddam’s surveillance was everywhere! Everyone spied on each other. The Ba’ath Party spied on you.

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