Notes on Mein Kampf | Quotes, Summary, & Analysis | Britannica

Introduction

• Mein Kampf is a political manifesto written by Adolf Hitler; his only complete book.
• Became the foundational document of National Socialism (Nazism) in Germany's Third Reich.
• Published in two volumes: 1925 and 1927; abridged edition in 1930.
• By 1939, sold 5,200,000 copies and translated into 11 languages.

Volume I: Die Abrechnung (The Settlement)

• Written in 1924 during Hitler's imprisonment after the Beer Hall Putsch.
• Covers:
  • Hitler's youth and experiences in WWI.
  • Germany's collapse in 1918.
  • Hitler's racist ideology, identifying Aryans as the superior race and Jews as parasites.
  • Advocates for German expansion (Lebensraum) eastward against Slavs and Marxists.
  • Calls for revenge against France.

Volume II: Die Nationalsozialistische Bewegung (The National Socialist Movement)

• Written after Hitler's release from prison.
• Outlines the political program of National Socialism including terrorist methods to gain power and govern.

Style and Impact

• Described as turgid, repetitious, and illogical.
• Skillfully demagogic, appealing to:
  • Ultrationalists
  • Anti-Semites
  • Antidemocrats
  • Anti-Marxists
  • Militarists
• Initially limited success but grew with the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.
• Became required reading in Germany; government-issued as state wedding gifts.

Post WWII Developments

• Efforts to limit access to Mein Kampf post-WWII.
• German law banned sales and display of Nazi books; Bavaria held copyright until it expired in 2016.
• Post-copyright, a heavily annotated edition was published by Munich’s Institute for Contemporary History.

The Nazi Party

• Founding: Began as the German Workers Party in 1919, founded by Anton Drexler.
• Hitler's Role:
  • Joined the party in 1919, took leadership by 1921.
  • Formulated a 25-point program for the party.
  • Renamed to National Socialist German Workers Party in 1920.
  • Beer Hall Putsch (1923) was a failed coup attempt leading to temporary ban and Hitler’s imprisonment.

Conclusion

• Mein Kampf remains a controversial work due to its foundational role in Nazi ideology and its influence on anti-Semitic and white supremacist groups.
• It entered the public domain in 2016, leading to debates on its publication and access globally.