By mid-January 2016, bookstores all over Germany will start selling new edition copies of Hitler's controversial political treatise, "Mein Kampf". The new publication currently sparked debates on whether it will be a useful educational tool as per its intended use, or a bad idea in general.
This will be the first time Germany has published Mein Kampf since Hitler's death in 1945, at a time when the country is still sensitive of its Nazi regime and Holocaust past. The release of this new edition comes after the expiration of the 70-year copyright on the text, which will be in effect by December 31.
Mein Kampf, or "My Struggle" is part autobiography and political discourse interspersed with Hitler's personal experiences. It outlines his "ultranationalist, anti-communist, and anti-Semitic" strategies for the National Socialist German Workers Party, commonly known as the Nazi Party. He wrote the book between 1924-1926. It became a bestseller after he became Chancellor in 1933, and by 1945, has sold 12 million copies and translated into 18 languages. When World War II finally ended in 1945, the Allies handed over the remaining ex-dictator's assets to the Bavarian government, including the copyright of the original "Mein Kampf" in German. German authorities applied the copyright law to ensure the book wouldn't be republished, and also as an effort not to encourage Hitler's remaining admirers, especially the neo-Nazis.
The new critical edition is made up of two volumes and runs at 2,000 pages. It includes explanatory sections and some 3,500 annotations. Scholars from the Munich Institute for Contemporary History worked hard on the new edition for three years. The common point of opinion is that historians could use the book purely for educational purposes-to help fill a gap in the current generation's knowledge and understanding of the era. According to Times Argus, director of the Munich Institute Andreas Wirsching believes Mein Kampf "should not be underestimated as a historical source and also as a key to understanding the history of National Socialism". According to Reuters, the Munich Institute is acutely aware of the controversy surrounding the book and has firmly stressed that their aim is to dismantle propaganda and crush any symbolic power the book may still possess. In a statement to the public, the Institute states their presentation of Mein Kampf "as a salient source document for contemporary history, to describe the context of the genesis of Hitler's world view".
However, Jewish opinions are more complicated. The Central Council of Jews in Germany has reservations. Council president Josef Schuster fears that after the copyright expires "there is a very big risk that this sorry effort of a work will be made more widely available". German authorities have set down strict terms by limiting the number of copies published to 4,000, and ensuring only annotated versions circulate. A "Hitler-only" version will not be tolerated.
"Hitler, Mein Kampf: A Critical Edition", will hit bookstores in Germany starting January 8, 2016, and will sell for €59 ($62), according to Andalou Agency.
