Figure 1.--. |
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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, makes 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.
Gustav von Kahr, the Bavarian state leader, called a meeting of local officials (November 8, 1923). While von Kahr was speaking, Hitler with armed stormtroopers burst into the building. Hitler jumped on top of a table and fired a pistol. He told the astonished officials that he had just launched the National Revolution. Hitler ordered Goering and the SA to guard the officials. Among those officials in addition to von Kahr were Otto von Lossow (Army commander in Bavaria), and Hans von Lossow (commandant of the Bavarian State Police). He tried to convince these officials to join him. As the new leader of Germany, he offered them posts in the new German government. All three declined. An enraged Hitler threatened to shoot them and then commit suicide. He reportedly told them, "I have three bullets for you, gentlemen, and one for me!" All three then agreed. Then former Field Marshall Eric Ludendorff arrived. Ludendorff was regarded by many Germans as a great war hero. It was he and Hidenberg that had defeated the Russian Army at Tannenberg early in the War (1914). It was, however, also Ludendorff that had planned the final great offensive that had failed (1918). Unwilling to accept the idea that he had failed, he found Hitler's constant claim that the Army had not failed, but was stabbed in the back by Jews and Socialists appealing. He thus supported the NAZIs. I do not know how deply he was involved in the Putsch, but it is curious that he turned up just at this time. Hitler offered him command of the Army and Ludendorff accepted. While Hitler was seizing the Bavarian government. Roehm, leading another group of armed Stormtroopers took control of the War Ministry. Rudolf Hess with other Stormtroopers was arresting Jews and left-wing politicans. Hitler's plan was to march on Berlin and seize control of the national government. Hitler's planning for the Putsch did not include seizing radio stations and the telegraph offices. As a result, national government officials in Berlin learned about the Putsch and prepared to act against it. The following day, Hitler, Ludendorff, Goering, Hess, and about 3,000 armed Stormtroopers and other supporters marched through Munich in an effort to join Roehm at the War Ministey. When they reached Odensplatz they encountered a detachment of the Munich police who ordered them to stop. When the NAZIs refused, the police fired a warning volley. The Stormtroopers returned fire. In the ensuing fire fight 21 people were killed and about 100 wounded, among them Goering. Hitler dropped to the ground, dislocating his shoulder. He then ran away using a car to make his get away. The NAZIs had a larger force than the police, but after Hitler ran away so did most of the Stormtroopers. Ludendorff and his adjutant, however, walked straight at the police despite the fire. Later Hitler's flight was explained with the feletious explanation that he was rushing a wounded boy to the hospital. Hitler had anticipated that Ludendorff's participation meant that the Reichwehr was with him. This proved not to be the case.
Hess played arole in Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch. His assignment with other Stormtroopers was to arrest Jews and left-wing politicans. After the Putsch failed, Hess managed to escape. He sought refuge in Haushofer's country home--Hartschimmelhof. This was located in the beautiful e Bavarian Alps. From there he escaped to Austria. The German police eventually managed to arrest and he was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison. While in Landsberg Prison with Hitler, he helped write Mein Kampf. Haushofer's theories and even certain phrases are clearly reflected in the end product. [Douglas-Hamilton] This shows Hess' inffluence. Haushofer's theries provided a coherent structure for ideas that had begun crystalize in Hitler's mind.
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.
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.
The book, no matter how poorly written is important because Hitler was amazingly frank about just what he planned to do.
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.
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.
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.
Douglas-Hamilton, James. Motive for a Mission.
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