In the 1930s, the policies pursued by the regimes of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union differed most in terms of

Both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sought to mobilize their populations around state initiatives, albeit in different forms. The Soviet Union promoted mass participation through collective farming and industrial programs, while Nazi Germany utilized propaganda to garner support for its militaristic and expansionist goals. Thus, this element of state policy does not effectively distinguish between the two regimes.

While both regimes utilized terror to suppress dissent, the focus and implementation varied significantly. The Soviet Union's Great Purge targeted perceived enemies of the state, whereas Nazi Germany's terror was more racially motivated, targeting Jews, Roma, and other groups. Therefore, although both engaged in terror, the underlying rationale differed, making this choice less relevant to the question.

Both regimes did promote militarism and a cult of personality; Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were both central figures in their respective states. However, this characteristic is not unique to either regime and does not capture the primary ideological difference regarding ethnic targeting, which was a core aspect of Nazi policy as opposed to Soviet ideology.