Maris Tiller
FSEM – Forbidden Texts
09/22/2021
The Mannheim introduction of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf provides important historical and political context to the book. Since Hitler is somewhat of an unreliable narrator, it is important to understand the introduction first and foremost so one is not accidentally taken in by Hitler’s false narrative. The introduction provides much-needed context to the story, such as the fact that Hitler wrote this book while he was in prison for attempting, with others, a fascist insurrection. One gets the impression, knowing this, that the author wrote this in an attempt to persuade people to his side. Perhaps one of his goals in writing this was to make sure he would never be imprisoned again, that if he wrote this and his ideas became widespread, he might gain the power he so desired.
The purpose, I think, for reading Mein Kampf, aside from it being right up your alley if you’re a fascist, is to understand the mind it came from. It is a grueling task, one which the introduction warns the reader about in the beginning. The book is needlessly long and often expresses the same nonsense ideas over and over again. The introduction not only warns us of Hitler’s poor writing skills, but also tells us why it is important that we take on this terrible task of reading this awful book. First and foremost, reading Mein Kampf should serve the purpose of recognizing fascist ideology, not only in the past, but in the present. By understanding how one could be taken in by completely nonsensical and horrible ideas, we can see how those ideas are present in our society today and can squash these dangerous ways before it is too late.