Books in the News: Mein Kampf

Academics and Anti-Nazi thinkers hope to preempt the influence of Neo-Nazi use of "Mein Kampf" for propaganda in 2015.

Since the end of WWII, Hitler's controversial "Mein Kampf" has been banned in Germany, but this may not last much longer. Some people are pushing for its release, along with critical academic notes. Though it has been widely available in other countries and on the internet, it would be a significant transition to print it for sale in Germany again.

It may surprise some people to learn that it is mainly academics and anti-Nazi figures who are pushing for its release. This is because, according to German copyright law, the book will become public domain 70 years after the author's death. In this case, the book will become public in 2015.

It is argued that the publication of a critical edition may proactively counter the efforts of Neo-Nazis who might use the book as propaganda once the rights to the text are public. German historians would also like more access to the text as a tool for understanding their country's history.