Leaders like Hitler are too drastic, leave nothing and destroy (9)

I believe the answer is:

dictators

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'leaders' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Ruthless leaders' mean 'dictators' so perhaps 'leaders' could also mean 'dictators')

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for dictators that I've seen is " Ruthless leaders".)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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