Figure 1.--.

Adolf Hitler after his conviction for treason as a result of the Munich Beer Hall putch wrote Mein Kampf while confined in Landsburg Prison. He dictated orally which Rudoolf Hess, his secretary, wrote down. This probably contributed to the rambling text. Mein Kampf is a long and rambling book which as a result, the content aside, mskes for difficult reading. Hitler as an avid consumer of crack pot ideas, many of which are exhibited in the book. The essential thesis, however, is very simple. To Hitler the core of the German people is the farmer. The first step in the revival of Germany was the destruction of the Jews who he saw as weakening the Aryan German people. Once the Jews were eliminated, Germany could develop the strength to seize the land needed by the German farmer in the East from the Slavs (Czechs, Poles, and Soviets). The German soldier would then seize the land from the Slavs who would be expelled or enslaved. The land would then be colonized by German farmers. Germany's policies in the Occupied East followed just this perscription. The anti-Semetic aspect of Mein Kampf is often mentioned in connectin with the Holocaust. Less commonly discussed is the Hollocaust for the Slavs which the NAZIs would have persued if they had won the War.

Adolf Hitler

Landsberg Prison

Hitler prison term was was served at Landsberg Castle in Munich. His terms of confinment were not severe. Living conditions were reasonably comfortable. Friends and visitors could bring food. He was in group quarters. He apparantly bored the other inmtes with his political harangs. He took this serious and proceeded to do just that. He did not like to type. He thus dictated orally which Rudoolf Hess, his secretary, wrote down. This probably contributed to the rambling text.

Writing Style

The book is perhaps the most poorly written political trastise of a major political figure in modern times. The syntax is convoluted and his thoughts are repetitive and rambling.

Historical Importance

The book, no matter how poorly written is important because Hitler was amazingly frank about just what he planned to do.

Title

Hitler named his book, Four Years of Struggle against Lies, Stupidity, and Cowardice. His publisher, hwever, convinced him to change the title to Mein Kampf (My Struggle). It was his political manifesto.

Central Thesis

Mein Kampf is a long and rambling book which as a result, the content aside, mskes for difficult reading. Hitler as an avid consumer of crack pot ideas, many of which are exhibited in the book. The essential thesis, however, is very simple. To Hitler the core of the German people is the farmer. The first step in the revival of Germany was the destruction of the Jews who he saw as weakening the Aryan German people. Once the Jews were eliminated, Germany could develop the strength to seize the land needed by the German farmer in the East from the Slavs (Czechs, Poles, and Soviets). The German soldier would then seize the land from the Slavs who would be expelled or enslaved. The land would then be colonized by German farmers. Germany's policies in the Occupied East followed just this perscription. The anti-Semetic aspect of Mein Kampf is often mentioned in connectin with the Holocaust. Less commonly discussed is the Hollocaust for the Slavs which the NAZIs would have persued if they had won the War.

Contents

Hitler in the book declared with considerable candor precisely what he planned to do when he took power. It contained much more, including an autobiography. The biography contained inaccuracies designed to show himm as a man of the people. He claimed to have worked a mannual laborer which was not true. Strangely Mein Kampf includes an insightful tratise on propaganda, not the kind of thing normally included in a politicians political manifesto. Hitler gives considerable attention to race. He talks confusingly about Germany and the Aryan race and insists that they are superority to all other countries/races. He maintains that the Aryan race was responsible for great advances in culture, art, and science. He sressed the importance of racve purity and warned that the Aryan race in Germany was being diluted and weakened. He maintained that the Aryan race had a "duty" to control the world. He did not suggest that this would be easy to accomplish. He used the Britosh Empire as an axample of what could be accomplished through organization and military power. Hitler posed the Jews as the greatest danger to Germany and the Aryan race. He charged that the Jews were lazy and made no real cultural contrubution. He ecen charged that young Jews attempted to seduce Germanan girls to weaken the Aryan race. Hitler blaned the Jews for virtually every thing he despised (such as modern art, pornography, and prostitution). One of the major themes he would persue in his later rise to power was that German had been stabed in the back during World War I. He charged that the War had not been lost on the battlefield, but by scheming Jewish politicians on the home front. He pointed to Jews and Socialists in the important Social Democratic Party. He also complained of Jewish control of important companies and newspapers. Hitler attacked the democratic Weimar Republic for permitting Jres to rise to such prominance. Accordung to Hitler, "a hundred blockheads do not equal one man in wisdom." Another major them was the nexus between Jews and Communists. He charged that most Jews were Communists. He charged that Jews and Bolsheviks control of Russia posed a mortal danger to Germany nd the rest of Europe. He proclaimed that Germany and the Aryan race was constrained by Lebensraum (living space). He insisted that German must seize land in the East for German's Lebensraum. Hitler argued for an alliance with Italy and Britain so Germany would be free to act in the East. He clearly stated that Germany musdt never again fight a two-front war.

Created: 2:48 AM 4/19/2005
Last updated: 2:48 AM 4/19/2005