Mein Kampf was the first book written about Adolf Hitler and was originally published in 1925. Ghostwritten and released while Adolf Hitler was in power, Mein Kampf has been a book that has seen much controversy and it is even banned in some countries. Today, mein kampf is still studied to better understand Hitler's mind.
When Adolf Hitler was arrested and jailed for high treason in 1923, he decided to begin work on a book that would eventually become synonymous with the Nazi totalitarian regime. It was to be his autobiography and a summary of his political beliefs. The first edition of Mein Kampf was released in 1925.
Hitler originally chose a title for his book that translated roughly to "Four and a Half Years of Fighting against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice." His publisher recommended that he shorten the title to Mein Kampf, which translates to "My Struggle" or "My Fight." After an initial run of 500 books, a second edition was released in 1926.
The sequel to Mein Kampf, "Die Nationalsozialistische Bewegung" ("The National Socialist Movement") was published in late 1926. Together with Mein Kampf, these books became almost like a collective handbook describing the Nazi mentality and philosophy.
The general purpose of Mein Kampf was to outline Hitler's beliefs. Written by a ghostwriter and distributed widely while Hitler was in power, the book detailed Hitler's feelings about the German race. In Mein Kampf, he stated that it was the purpose of the German race to rule the world.
Mein Kampf pointed a heavy finger at all other ethnic groups and particularly at Jews. Hitler believed that Jews were diluting the German blood and that this mingling of ethnic groups would cause the degradation of the German bloodlines.
Though the biological theories in Mein Kampf have been proven incorrect, the book remains popular among historians and others interested in the Second World War. It is illegal in some countries and restricted in others, though in many areas of the world there are no restrictions on its sale or ownership.
Mein Kampf is sometimes used today as a study of foreign policy, racism, and politics.
