I have been reading some World War II history, but just what is the difference if any, when they say that Hitler was Chancellor, and Winston Churchill was Prime minister, and Roosevelt president, aren't they all the same thing, or what is the difference?

Arpeggionist

The respective authorities that their countries' laws gave them were different. Roosevelt's authority was the most limited of the three (he had to get congress to allow him to declare war), and Hitler's authority was pretty much absolute when the German president Hindenburg died in 1934. Apr 02 05, 3:25 PM

Baloo55th

No, they're not the same. The USA doesn't have a real equivalent to the UK (and other places, OK Oz...) Prime Minister who is head of government but not Head of State. The Irish Taioseach is equivalent to the PM, because the Irish President is non-executive. The Chancellor in Germany originally was a Prime Minister role, first under the Kaisers, and later under a President. When Hitler got the Chancellor's job, he basically got rid of the President and redefined the Chancellor as Fuhrer (leader). The US President is both Head of Government and Head of State in some ways, but the leaders of the Senate and Congress have an important role as internal heads of governmental divisions. They don't have an international role, unlike the PM. The USSR man of the time, Joseph Stalin, was none of these. Can't remember his exact title, but probably General Secretary of the Party. Equivalent to US President in many ways, but without the actual restraining power of Congress and Senate. OK, if the WHOLE Party had said they wanted something, maybe they'd have got it, but who would be the first one to speak.... Apr 02 05, 4:18 PM