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Stanley Milgram (1933-1984)

A social psychologist who became famous for experiments in the 1960s involving obedience to authority, experiments which became quite controversial. Snyder references Milgram’s experiments when explaining why more people did not initially resist the actions of the Nazis in pre-World War II Germany.

Václav Havel (1936-2011)

Former president of the Czech Republic as well as an author and playwright. Snyder uses an excerpt from Havel’s book Power for the Powerless when discussing how groups of people are labeled and treated under fascist regimes.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. Britain’s resistance to Nazi Germany is referenced regarding the importance of opposing tyrants.

Teresa Prekerowa (1921-1998)

A Polish historian and writer. Snyder references her writing when discussing resistance to tyrannical regimes, as she was a teenager in Poland during the Nazi occupation.

Victor Klemperer (1881-1960)

A German literary scholar whose diaries about living in Nazi Germany were published after his death. Snyder references Klemperer’s concept that truth is defeated in four different ways.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975)

An American philosopher and political theorist. Snyder references her work regularly when discussing authoritarian regimes in the 20th century.

Adolf Hitler (1989-1945)

Leader of Nazi Germany during World War II. He is referenced regularly as the quintessential tyrant.

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