Mein Kampf
zh-cn:我的奋斗Mein Kampf (German "My Struggle") isbook written by Adolf Hitler. The first volume, titled Eine Abrechnung ("A reckoning") was published on July 18, 1925;second volume Die nationalsozialistische Bewegung ("The national-socialistic movement") was published1926.
Hitler dictatedbook during his imprisonmentLandsberghis later secretary Rudolf Hess, who edited it. The bookconvoluted, repetitioushardread, but even cursory browsing clearly outlines major ideas that culminated inhorrorsWWII. Particularly prominentHitler's violent anti-semitism, his logic borderingobsession (for example, he claimsinternational language Esperanto was part ofJewish plot), as well as his arguments towardsold German nationalist ideaDrang nach Osten:necessitygain Lebensraum ("living space") eastwards, especiallyRussia.
Like many autobiographies, much ofmaterial was distorted or fabricated byauthor.
Before Hitler's risepower,book sold very slowly. AlthoughNSDAP (the Nazi party) claimed thatwas alreadyhuge seller, documents revealed following World War II proved thisbe false. Some historians have speculated thatwider reading might have alertedworld todangers Hitler would posepeaceEuropetoHolocaust that he would pursue. An abridged English translation was produced before World War II. However,publisher removed some ofmore anti-semiticmilitaristic statements. The publicationthis version caused Alan Cranston, who was an American reporterUPIGermanylater senator from California,publish his own abridgedannotated translation, which he believedmore truly reflectcontents ofbook. In 1939 he was sued by Hitlercopyright infringement andConnecticut judge ruledHitler's favor;publicationCranston's version hadbe stopped after about 500,000 copies had been sold.
After Hitler's risepower,book gained enormous popularityvirtually becameBibleevery Nazi. Every couple intendingget married was requiredowncopy. SalesMein Kampf earned Hitler millions; however, manythose who purchasednever read it,many boughtsimplyshow their allegianceHitler, gain position inNSDAPavoidattentions ofGestapo. Byend ofwar, about 10 million copies ofbook had been distributedGermany.
Today,copyrightMein Kampfowned bystateBavaria. The copyright will end on December 31, 2015. The governmentBavaria,agreement withFederal GovernmentGermany, does not allow any copying or printing ofbookGermany,opposesalsoother countries butless success. Owningbuyingbooklegal. Tradingold copieslegal as well, unless itdonesuchfashion aspromote hatred or war, whichgenerally illegal. Most German libraries carry heavily commentedexcerpted versionsMein Kampf.
In 1999,Simon Wiesenthal center documented that major internet booksellers like amazon.combarnesandnoble.com sell Mein KampfGermany. Afterpublic outcry, both companies agreedstop those sales.
Public-domain copiesMein Kampfavailable at various Internet siteslinksbanned books; also, several white supremacist Web sites provide copies ofbook.
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