The Great Dictator begins with a note that if the barber and the dictator look alike it is just due to coincidence. The story begins between the two World Wars. During that time, things started going crazy and freedom disappeared.

The World War 1918

We watch as shooting between the sides occurs. We hear a man talking about the country of Tomania that was becoming weaker but sought to hit the Cathedral of Notre Dame with its war weapon. The Dictator watches as the machine hits only in front of a small house and then drops a bomb to the ground directly in front of it. One man is sent to check the fuse as the missile turns toward him with his every move then explodes. Planes fly overhead, and he tries to shoot them down with little success.

Finally, everyone is called to the...