Source: http://eesiem.files.wordpress.com
Here’s an interesting, and controversial, bit of news: According to the Telegraph, German-Jewish leaders are supporting an effort by historians to publish Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf in Germany, for the first time since World War II. (I’m assuming that the edition would be in German, though the article didn’t say so explicitly.) According to the Telegraph, this “scholarly edition would be accompanied by a critical introduction and footnotes challenging Hitler’s assertions under the proposal by Munich historians.” So why has this become such a major issue now, over 60 years later?
The German state of Bavaria, in which Hitler wrote the mix of ideology and memoir while serving a four-year jail sentence for his failed 1923 coup attempt, has a 70-year exclusive copyright on publishing the book, which it has used to maintain an effective ban.
This copyright is due to expire at the end of 2015, leading to fears of a free-for-all among unscrupulous publishers.
Bernhard Gotto, spokesman for Munich’s Institute of Contemporary History, which has historians working on the scholarly edition, said this was why it was important that historians got in first with their critical editions.
“We do not want obscure publishers profiting from this book,” Mr Gotto said. “We think historians need this scholarly edition, which would lead to a demystification of the book.”
The German Finance Ministry has responded by insisting that it will try to find a way to extend the book’s copyright and prevent its publication.
Now, I’m not a fan of censorship by any means. And while I can’t help but feel uneasy about the ready availability of hate literature, I do agree with the position of Stephen Kramer, the general secretary of the Central Council of Jews in Germany:
“An aggressive and enlightening engagement with the book would doubtless remove many of its false, persisting myths.”
Additionally, in this day and age, Mein Kampf is readily available on the internet anyway, in every language imaginable. So I think that we could definitely do with a critical, scholarly edition that would combat the book’s hatred and falsehoods. This is pretty controversial stuff, though, so I’m not necessarily wedded to my own opinion. Would anyone like to sound off on the issue?
-Naomi
#1 by Laura Weakley on August 8, 2009 - 5:03 pm
Naomi,
I have to agree with you, even the part about not being wedded to your own opinion! I am not for censorship, and this is an historical book, which in my opinion is the only reason I believe it should be re-published. Yes, it will stir up antisemitism in the minds of ignorant people. As long as scholarly comments and critical analysis accompany the book (especially if they address the hate-filled propaganda and opinions with facts and/or other ways to debunk myths long-held by his supporters), re-publishing it would hopefully serve higher purposes. Hopefully, scholarly comments will help educate those who have limited experience with the subject matter. Finally, stirring up emotions may not constitute a good enough reason NOT to publish it (despite my having no favoritism whatsoever towards the author of it!).
#2 by Naomi on August 11, 2009 - 10:16 am
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your comments. Another point in the original article was that “Mein Kampf” is readily available everywhere, anyways – on the internet, in used bookstores, even in people’s homes in Germany! Apparently, for about 12 years, “Mein Kampf” was a mandatory wedding gift, so loads of people already own the book (even if they don’t read it or approve of it, I’m sure many people still have their copy in an attic or something, collecting dust). So really, since the hate literature is so readily available, the best way to combat it isn’t to try to outlaw it, but to fight it with reasoned, intelligent criticism.