Throughout history, some dictators and authoritarian leaders have exhibited strange and bizarre obsessions. It's important to note that the information provided here is based on historical records and accounts, but not all of these claims are verified beyond doubt. Some of these strange obsessions include:
Adolf Hitler - The Nazi dictator had a fascination with the occult and pseudosciences. He was known to consult astrologers, believed in the power of amulets, and was particularly interested in the Holy Grail and other mythical artifacts.
Joseph Stalin - The Soviet leader was reportedly obsessed with personal security and paranoia. He had a fear of assassination attempts and took extreme measures to protect himself, including living in multiple heavily fortified residences.
Kim Jong-il - The former North Korean leader had an obsession with film and cinema. He was known to have a collection of over 20,000 DVDs and was particularly fond of action films and movies featuring famous actresses.
Muammar Gaddafi - The Libyan dictator had a range of eccentricities, including an obsession with his appearance. He reportedly had a team of female bodyguards, wore flamboyant clothing, and even had plastic surgery done to maintain his youthful image.
Idi Amin - The Ugandan dictator had a fascination with military regalia and titles. He gave himself the title of "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular."
Saddam Hussein - The former Iraqi leader had an interest in writing romantic novels and poetry, and he published several novels under a pseudonym.
Francisco Franco - The Spanish dictator was said to have had an obsession with cleanliness and hygiene. He required his subordinates to wash their hands before meeting him, and he was known to have a germaphobic aversion to physical contact.
Pol Pot - The Cambodian dictator, leader of the Khmer Rouge regime, had a utopian vision of an agrarian society and an obsession with eradicating urban and intellectual influences. His regime led to the mass genocide known as the Cambodian Genocide.
These examples highlight some of the strange and unusual obsessions exhibited by dictators throughout history. It's important to remember that these were authoritarian figures with significant power, and their obsessions sometimes had far-reaching consequences for their countries and the world.