Dictators of the 20th century died in humiliating situations, such as in a puddle of urine or executions near toilets.

Recent reports indicate possible radical steps from major Russian businesses. It is reported that some oligarchs are considering the scenario of physically eliminating Putin, according to Ukrainian intelligence data. In this regard, gazeta looks into history and recalls the fates of the most famous and notorious dictators of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Cult of Fear in Dictatorships

History shows that dictators rarely die a peaceful death. Dutch historian Frank Dikötter notes that even strong personalities like Stalin and Mao die alone, oppressed by paranoia and continuous conflicts. As a result of creating their own enemies, often among close associates, they are forced to maintain power through violence.

The Death of Stalin

According to archives, Stalin, as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, organized large-scale repressions. Only from 1934 to 1939, more than 1.5 million people were arrested and subjected to torture. Paranoia also engulfed Stalin himself: when he was found on the floor in a puddle of urine on March 1, 1953, he could no longer ask for help due to fear of his surroundings. His death occurred a few days later, on March 5.

Mao Zedong and His Circle

Mao Zedong faced similar paranoia, becoming extremely suspicious in the last years of his life. He pitted close associates against each other, causing fear in his circle. When his associate Zhou Enlai was diagnosed with cancer, Mao did not allow him to be treated, leading to Zhou’s death in January 1976. Mao himself died in September of the same year.

Humiliating Ends

The situation around fallen dictators was not always favorable. Benito Mussolini was arrested by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1943, after which Italian fascists began to refuse to support him. The operation to rescue him with the help of Adolf Hitler was short-lived. Ultimately, Mussolini was captured by partisans and executed on April 28, 1945.

Hitler in the Bunker

As for Hitler, his last days were spent in a heroic escape from reality. On April 30, 1945, after news of the mistreatment of Mussolini’s body, he committed suicide, blowing himself up along with his new wife Eva Braun. The remaining bodies were burned.

Destruction of Dictatorship Symbols

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a wave of destruction of dictator statues began across Eastern Europe. Many memorials of Vladimir Lenin and other leaders were challenged. In Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu, who ruled from 1965 to 1989, decided to hold a mass rally, which quickly turned into a riot.

The End of Ceaușescu

The leader tried to calm the discontented, but soon was forced to flee with his wife after the population was unleashed. Later, both were captured and publicly executed.

Days of Reckoning

Some dictators avoid reckoning even after death. Spaniard Francisco Franco was initially buried in a grand memorial, but his body was exhumed in 2019 and moved to a more modest location.

Similar actions occurred with Stalin, whose body was later moved from the mausoleum after denunciations by his successor Nikita Khrushchev.

Over Time, Uprising Against Dictators

The events of the Arab Spring in 2011 became a vivid example of the overthrow of dictators. Muammar Gaddafi was captured and brutally killed while fleeing from the rebels. His death symbolized the fall of tyrants and their loss of control.