Similarities in how they came to power - Crisis Context
Hitler and Mao both rose to power in countries that were struggling to function. In China's case, this was because the Manchu
Dynasty had just been ousted and the country was instead divided into provinces, which caused weakness and instability. Other problems facing the country were extensive inflation, unemployment, and seasonal starvation. In Germany's case, this was because WWI had destroyed the country, with further damage done by the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was facing similar problems of instability, weakness, inflation, and unemployment.
Similarities (in aiming to achieve power through policy – that relates to the various crisis they have)

Hitler and Mao both promised to eliminate foreign control in their country, which was causing resentment amongst the people. Both emphasized and encouraged nationalism.

Hitler and Mao both promised to solve the economic issues plaguing their countries.

Hitler's public appeal was primarily due to three promises:
1. Hitler wanted to improve the economy by decreasing imports and increasing exports, which would make Germany selfsufficient.
2. renewed fiscal (government) prosperity for Germany.
3. the creation of a strong Germany, within (government) and without (foreign relations)
anyone who opposed him and the Nazi Party was thus opposing the strength and success of Germany.
Mao's public appeal was primarily due to three promises:
1. Mao promoted economic improvement through development of communism (following on from Sun ’ s principle of socialism).
2. availability of food for everyone (no more seasonal famines, peoples
’
livelihood improved)
3. the creation of a unified China (not including imperialism, nationalism was the focus) anyone who opposed him and the Communist Party of China was thus considered to be manipulated by the West and
corrupted by affluency.
Similarities (in aiming to achieve power through propaganda)

Hitler and Mao both established totalitarian regimes.

Hitler and Mao both used propaganda as a tool to promote their cause, enable their rise to power, and destabilize their opponents.

Hitler and Mao both used their own writings (Hitler: Mein Kampf, Mao: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung) as reinforcement of their ideas and policies (in propaganda and in government).

Hitler and Mao both indoctrinated youth with their ideology to create loyal followers.

Hitler and Mao both created an image of themselves that was idolized by the people.

Hitler and Mao both discouraged religion, since it competed with their supreme power.
Similarities in their use of force

Before they rose to power, Hitler and Mao both gained supporters and power from individuals and groups that were retaliating against the government.

Hitler and Mao both used force and violence as a means of attaining and enforcing their power, although Hitler was not successful in his attempt to gain power through force (Beer Hall Putsch).

Hitler and Mao both did not tolerate any kind of opposition, and enforced their power reacting to opposition violently and mercilessly.

Hitler and Mao both targeted specific groups. Hitler - Jews, homosexuals, Roma, etc. for persecution, as well as for blame for
Germany's problems. In his use of violence to control his people, Mao targeted the intellectuals, whom he perceived as his greatest threat.
Differences
LEFT v. RIGHT
Hitler's identification as an extreme right-wing Nazi was distinctive. "Right-wing" means that he endorsed social inequalities.
"Nazi" indicates his support of a combination of nationalism, socialism, and anti-Marxism , as well as the existence of a "master
Aryan race".
Mao's identification as an extreme left-wing Communist was distinctive. "Left-wing" means that he endorsed social equality.
"Communist" indicates his support of a society without a hierarchy or money and state systems in which industry is commonly owned.
MAIN SUPPORT GROUP
Hitler gained power and influence with the support and financial aid of the upper classes of society.
Mao gained power and influence with the support of the common people, not the upper classes.
MAIN METHOD – USE OF FORCE V. LEGAL MEANS
Hitler - The ultimate step in Hitler's rise to power occurred as a result of his own manipulation of politics , most notably, being appointed as chancellor.
Hitler attained and developed his power according to the laws of Germany, even though he exploited some of them, notably
Article 48.
Mao - The ultimate step in Mao's rise to power occurred as a result of the use of force, specifically his occupation of Bejing.
Mao attained power without using legal tactics (there was no effective legal system at the time).

Methods to gain Power - The use of Legal means v. Force
When you need to write a general essay on how someone came to power you will have to look at –

Context,

Leadership Qualities (including the ability to make use of opportunities and use a political system if an appropriate one exists or use force if need be) and …

Opposition Weaknesses.
However an essay on methods used to gain power (for example on which is more useful force or legal means) requires a different structure and focus than that used in a general assignment. For these you must look at
‘Sticks’ and ‘Carrots’. Essays on method are more commonly asked about the consolidation of rather than rise to power. In either case you should examine -

Force

Fear

Policy

Propaganda
To help you with this here are a few more notes on Mao and the use of force - - -
It was his only real option to come to power -
A revolution is commonly understood to be an event which seeks to overthrow one political order in society and replace it with another. In China, Mao Zedong (1893-1976) wanted to overthrow the rule of the Guomindang (or KMT) and establish a new communist political order under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. Since there was no effective legal system in China at the time of the CCP/GMD struggle, force was the method by which Mao came to power (whereas Hi tler could manipulate the political system in Germany in the 20’s and early 30’s)
He believed in it! -
As demonstrated by the following quotations, Mao believed that violence and support from the masses were necessary for the achievement of a peaceful communist order. One of the most critical challenges faced by Mao in this regard was establishing strong military support for the revolution while simultaneously preventing the armed forces from becoming too powerful. Mao's concerns are reflected in the last two quotations; while arguing that political power cannot be achieved without resorting to the use of force, ("Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" — the gun being a metaphor for the military), Mao also believed that the party must always remain in ultimate political control of the nation in order for peace and prosperity to be achieved ("...the gun must never be allowed to command the Party").
Quotations from Mao Zedong on War and Revolution –
Using one of these in your essay on force might help you emphasize what you believe Mao’s attitude to force was -
A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.
— From Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan
The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; it can be waged only by mobilizing the masses and relying on them.
— From Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work
War is the highest form of struggle for resolving contradictions, when they have developed to a certain stage, between classes, nations, states, or political groups, and it has existed ever since the emergence of private property and of classes.
— From Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War
Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
— From Problems of War and Strategy
How Mao used Force -

Party Purges
AIM - to eliminate opposition and deter potential threats
Overthrew the government in ’49 using violent methods (Guerrilla warfare)
Party officials were removed from office if they challenged Mao.
1959 – Peng Dehuai (the official who denounced the Great Leap) was removed from office. He was subsequently imprisoned until his death.
1964 – Liu Shaoqui refused Mao’s orders and was dismissed.
Many communist officials labelled as enemies were sent to labour camps such as the May 17 th Cadre School.
These camps resembled Stalinera Siberian gulags. During Mao’s regime an estimated 10 – 15 million people were imprisoned and tortured in camps.

Class Warfare
AIM – to eliminate gaps between urban and rural and between labourers and intellectuals.
Mao believed his enemies were rich peasants, landlords, intellectuals, rightists and counter revolutionaries.
Use of force evident immediately after 1949 against landlords (estimated 2 – 4 million killed).

Extensive use of force against many enemy groups during the Cultural Revolution from 66 – 76. Weapons were the PLA and Red Guards. Mao’s main targets were the Party and Government structures. Those with large houses and many possessions were forced to live in smaller dwellings and had their possessions destroyed or confiscated. Intellectuals targeted – learning discouraged.
Result -
Under Mao’s compared to Stalin’s or Hitler’s regimes many more perished. Somewhere between 49 and 78 million people died.