As I began reading the introduction to Mein Kampf, D.C. Watt introduces us to the mind of Hitler by telling us the sole reason why this book still is around. At first I didn’t understand why this book was still legal to sell and buy, until I realized that we must learn from it as history does tend to repeat itself. In the first few pages Watt states the following, “Why then revive Mein Kampf.” As they should, many Jewish people didn’t want Mein Kampf to still be sold as they had fears that some would see Hitler’s side and something catastrophic could happen again.
Watt states that although he understands the Jewish concerns, he says that the plague is over, and we must use this book to learn from it and understand why and how Hitler was able to achieve such horrid acts. Watt tells us that we must learn from Hitlerism. I have yet to hear this word until I read the introduction. He explains that young people should be impelled to learn of Hitlerism so that they must know how such horrid acts were able to be so easily done.
While not too much is known of Hitlers ancestors there is speculation that his late Grandfather could have been Jewish, oh the irony. Four of Hitler’s siblings died young and only one, his younger sister made it into adulthood. Seven of his mothers siblings died young, just adding to the grief stricken Hiedler family. Hitler and his younger sister Paula both made it into adulthood, where Hitler would kill himself¹ in 1945, and Paula would pass from a stroke in 1960.
Hitler first sold the two volumes separately, however in 1930 German publishers released the People’s Edition which combined the two volumes. While at least the manifesto didn’t sell as much as you would think (vol.I 23,000 & vol.2 13,000), however by the end of Hitler’s life Mein Kampf had reached the selling threshold of 8-9 million copies. There was also a copy of Mein Kampf written in braille so the blind could understand Hitler’s ideology and upbringing. While D.C. Watt touches on multiple subjects, from Hitler’s upbringing to the structures and ideology of Mein Kampf, I will forever believe that this book should be banned worldwide. Some will say that it shouldn’t as it will just add more attraction to the book, I think his thoughts and ideas should be burned forever just like his soul.