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Reprint Mein Kampf, Urge German Jews

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2009 3:54 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Hitler's autobiography-manifesto Mein Kampf has been strictly banned in Germany since the end of World War II, but a proposal to reprint it has the endorsement of the country's leading Jewish organization, among other groups, reports the Independent. "A historically critical edition needs to be prepared today to prevent neo-Nazis profiting from it," said the head of the Central Council of Jews. But politicians and many academics oppose the effort.

The government of the state of Bavaria, which owns the rights to Mein Kampf, says any published version "may play straight into the hands of the right." Several scholars say that the rambling book "does not provide any important answers to questions about how the Nazi regime was possible." Yet Jewish groups believe a critical edition is indispensable, particularly since the Internet has made its censorship impossible.

Mein Kampf has been banned in Germany for decades.
"Mein Kampf" has been banned in Germany for decades.   (©-Marlith-)
A wax figure of Adolf Hitler in Berlin last year. A man ripped off his head shortly after the museum opened to the public.
A wax figure of Adolf Hitler in Berlin last year. A man ripped off his head shortly after the museum opened to the public.   (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
cochiserocks
Aug 12, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
I assume you are referring to the economic down turn of the 1920's and 30's and the end of the old world order (Westfalian system/age of empires etc..). True, but there were other factors - the real fear of communism and the festering anger at the overly harsh terms of the Treaty of Versaille, plus the rise of the then new and attractive faces of dictatorship (Hitler made the cover of Time magazine - Man of the year 1939) and the support they garnered from, er......the allies - tired of supporting a limping Europe and glad at the structure and economic prosperity they seemed to bring - well, that's not going on now is it. Your argument is a bit simplistic don't you think?
northeast
Aug 11, 2009 12:17 PM CDT
Vital book to read, though....I don't understand how Germany hopes to honor the phrase "never again" if they can't understand the mentality of a monster in the first place.
Thinker
Aug 10, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
Just proves that millions of people were easily misled by a half-wit religious maniac. It can (and does) still happen today. Stoking hatred against any specific group of individuals is the first step. Sending ideological thugs out to the mainstream to disrupt civil discourse is the second step. Third step?

 
Germany • Jews • Germans • Adolf Hitler • Nazi • Third Reich • ban • Mein Kampf

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