Before Adolf Hitler came into power, he wrote a book called Mein Kampf which means My Struggle. Mein Kampf was partly an autobiographical book and detailed Hitler’s goals for the future of the German people. Although it was part autobiographical, the book was filled with glorified inaccuracies, facts that were not completely true, and huge revisions to his history. In the book, he also wrote that all Germans were superior to other races because of their “racial purity” and that he wanted to completely wipeout any person or group that was not of one-hundred percent Germanic lineage and that Jews were the main threat to “racial purity”. Both parts of the book were finally published in 1927 but Hitler did not come into full power until around 1940. Was Mein Kampf just a senseless book that Hitler wrote or was it really meaningful?
When Mein Kampf was first published, it was very unpopular. Nobody really knew or cared about Hitler’s life or what he stood for except for the Nazis. The book was a disappointment because a very small amount of people bought it and actually read it. The majority of the people who bought the book were mainly Nazis who were Hitler’s followers and agreed with his views. The book soon became like a “bible” to the Nazi party.
Once Hitler did come into complete power there was great pressure on the masses of Germany to buy Mein Kampf. Many people did purchase the book, but only because it was written by their leader and they were being pressured by the Nazis, not because the book was interesting or even meaningful. Although everyone now had a copy of the book most did not even read a chapter of it, let alone cover to cover. At this point, Mein Kampf was not only a “bible” type book to the Nazis but now it was a bible for everyone else too. It was also similar to a bible in the sense that almost everyone owns one and knows what it is basically about but very few read it or even understand it.
Hitler was very hypocritical because he censored the books that people had. He only allowed books that he agreed with and that went along with his policies. One of the only books that he accepted was of course his own. The Nazis enforced Hitler’s censoring policies by burning the books that were unacceptable in his mind.Some may think that Mein Kampf was an important part of what Germany stood for because to some it was empowering, motivating and was a good plan for the future. Others may disagree with this opinion because it was also degrading and threatening to people that did not fall under the same description that Hitler accepted in the book.
Ultimately, Mein Kampf was one of Hitler’s tools that he used to gain even more power. People felt obligated to buy it because he was the leader and was “important” which unfortunately just made Hitler even more powerful.
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I thought your articile was really good and interesting. I liked reading about the Mein Kampf and the bachground behind it. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteMcKenna Hutcheson
Shocking about the handful that believe the book is valuable for its "motivational" content. I can't imagine why anyone would think Mein Kampf is what Germany really stands for. Mein Kampf is basically about eliminating everyone except the blonde, blue-eyed Aryan race. That'd be a ridiculous example of German values.
ReplyDelete-Hallie Rohr
I know I couldn't believe it either when I read that people actually saw this book as "motivating", its ridiculous.
ReplyDelete-Kelsie Schiffer
It's interesting-- you can still see instances of this today-- take any sort of celebrity today and have them write a book- doesn't matter how poorly written it may be, but as long as their name is stamped across the cover it instantly becomes a best seller. It is ridiculous how some people, like some of the Germans, will find a book "motivating" simply because it was written by someone famous or of political significance. It just goes to show man's instinct to be a follower.
ReplyDeleteI think that your article was very good. Do you think if people had actually read the book, it would have made a difference in their views toward their leader?
ReplyDeleteThere were many people who did read at least sections of the book, just not many who read it cover to cover. The really interesting thing is how things in print suddenly become landmark policies simply because of their author. Natasha is absolutely right on this!
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