Edited Version of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' Becomes Best-Seller in Germany

The edited version of 'Mein Kampf' by Adolf Hitler, published in 2016, has become one of the best-selling non-fiction books in Germany. Since its release in January of last year, 85,000 copies have been sold. This version, which is 1,984 pages long, is titled 'Hitler, Mein Kampf, A Critical Edition.' According to the Associated Press, the book was published by the Institute of Contemporary History in Munich, which has studied the errors and propaganda of Adolf Hitler for years and added interpretations and notes to it. The intellectual property rights of this work were held by the Ministry of Economy of Bavaria, which had prevented the publication of a new version of the book in Germany until the end of 2015. Despite its provocative, insulting, and anti-Semitic themes, the book was not banned in Germany and has always been available in second-hand bookstores, libraries, or online. The French news agency also reports that due to high sales, a sixth edition will soon be released. The Institute of Contemporary History in Munich, which first published this book in January 2016, states that this edited version will enrich current discussions about the resurgence of 'autocratic political views' in Western societies. Initially, only 4,000 copies were to be printed, but due to widespread interest, reprints began quickly. The sixth edition will be available in late January this year. In a list published by Der Spiegel, this book has been among the best-selling non-fiction books in Germany for most months of last year, even topping the list for two weeks in April. The Institute of Contemporary History in Germany held a successful series of seminars and discussions about 'Mein Kampf' across Germany and other European cities at the same time as the book's release last year, which, according to the institute's officials, greatly helped evaluate the impact of this new edition. Andreas Wirsching, the director of the institute, stated, 'It became clear that the concern about the publication of this work promoting Hitler's worldview or justifying his thoughts in society and giving another excuse to neo-Nazis for propaganda was completely unfounded.' 'On the contrary, discussing Hitler's worldview and his propaganda methods allows for an examination of the factors and consequences of authoritarian ideologies, especially at a time when autocratic political views and far-right slogans are on the rise.' The Institute of Contemporary History in Germany states that data regarding the book's sales locations show that 'most of its buyers are interested in politics and history or educators, not reactionary forces and far-right extremists.' The institute also states that it will continue to strictly control the rights to this work in the global market. Despite significant interest in many countries for translating this book, currently, only English and French translations are planned. In 1945, after Hitler's defeat in World War II, the Allied governments transferred ownership of the Nazi party's publishing house in Germany to Bavaria. The Bavarian government's intellectual property rights over all these works, including 'Mein Kampf,' ended in 2015. For 70 years, Bavaria prevented the publication of this provocative work out of respect for the victims of Nazi Germany and to prevent any incitement to violence and hatred. However, in January 2016, an edited version with critical interpretations and notes was published because they were concerned that 'Mein Kampf' would be published and enter the market without critical analysis.