„Kavgam” means in German „Mein Kampf”

One of the most depressing experiences from my school days was to observe some pupils
who used to behave like mischievous fiends and yet were regularly praised and rewarded with
the best grades and special prizes at the end of the school year and during it. The reason was
not that despite their arrogant behaviour and vulgar vocabulary they still were little geniuses
like a certain type of intellects allegedly typical for Europe these days. Rather they got the
laudatory attention in public because they were children of the teachers or – better – of the
headmaster or other influential persons in the district with close ties to the principal. No
teacher dared speak up and protest and if he or she did by mistake he was at once corrected
and censured other teachers or reported to the principal. The children of such respectable
citizens and enlightened teachers can’t but be in the image of their brave parents. Isn’t it
obvious? – it was argued. If someone suggests they aren’t he is either ignorant or immoral.
This is exactly what comes to my mind when I think about Turkey. Her century-old
mischief and Muslim identity should be well-known to any literate person in Europe. And
many do know that one can’t reasonably expect polite behviour and loyalty to the European
values from her but still the hopeful EU candidate with powerful protectors is praised by the
EU principal for their „reforms”, „secularism”, „modernity”, „equality” etc. etc.
Now how can all of that square with the amazing success of a book in Turkey which in
Europe is forbidden and anathemised and which in fact had done more harm to Europe than
all the Turkish incursions? The book in question is „Mein Kampf”. The author was once
praised for his respectabity and progressive reforms. Besides, he was the youngest German
chancellor ever.
Let’s take a look at how „Mein Kampf” or - to use its fine Turkish translation - „Kavgam”
has gradually won the hearts and minds of our future co-Europeans.
 The first Turkish edition of "Mein Kampf" appeared in 1939. It was reprinted in 1940. At
that time Turkey was most sympathetic to Hitler’s schemes and the latter’s attack on the
USSR in June 1941 unleashed another Pan-Turkic euphoria comparable to that of 1914-1918.
A great mythical Turkish empire of Turan was looming large in the east. If the battle of
Stalingrad had ended with the Soviet defeat, Turkey would have joint Germany to partition
the USSR , probably as one of the reasons referring to the popularity of Hitler’s work in
Ataturk’s paradise.
In the 1960-ies and 1970-ies with the rise of the Grey Wolves movement with Alparslan
Turkesh as its „bashbug” ( „leader”) Hitler’s work was re-translated, published and
distributed among his followers who studied it fervidly and implemented its guidelines.
But the real renaissance of the book goes back to the 1990-ies. „Kavgam” became a Turkish
bestseller.
All in all there have been 40 editions of "Kavgam" in Turkey , a number exceeded only by
the Quran and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha Ataturk’s works.
With the revival of the old love for Hitler the former translations of "Mein Kampf" were
found unsatisfactory. Now the book was re-translated into Turkish by at least four translators
simultaneously. Outstanding men of letters like Refik Özdek, Ö. Kenan Yalintag, Yaрmur
Reyhani and Sibel Özbudun took up the challange. 16 different publishing houses, including
„Emre” and „Manifesto”, competed to popularize it on the market. And their hopes were not
disappointed. It has sold 100 000 copies. In 2005 „Kavgam” was the fourth best-selling book
in the country according to the Turkish D&R bookstore giant's list, although many bookstores
with international clients on purpose were not including it in the best sellers section . The
prices for „Kavgam” went dramatically down to allow even the poorest student to buy and
enjoy it. On the internet it costs at present as cheap as 3,84 new Turkish lira (2,13 Euro).
Before it cost four times more.
Book jackets of "Kavgam" can be recommended for their attractiveness and artistic quality.
The original German editions look dull and discouraging compared to the heroic pathos of the
Führer whom the Turks are so fond of . They have respect for undiluted,undivided and
unrefined power whose supreme symbol is Hitler.
"Kavgam" is widely read by the young generation. Particularly students find in it what their
are looking for – high idealism of racial purity, fanatism, mythical imperial dreams. The older
generation can also recall the past when theirs or their parents’ hearts were on the side on the
German readers of „Kavgam” fighting on the Volga.
"Kavgam" contains a supplement where the old terminology is translated into Anatolian
realities. So we learn that the Kurds are a nation closely related to the Jews. The Jewish Kurds
conspire with the Turkish leftists to stab the Turkish state and army in the back just like the
Jews and communists did in Germany in 1918. They are waiting for their chance to deliver
the final mortal blow.
So many naughty readers and Hitler’s enthusiasts in Turkey made not only the small Jewish
community there nervous. The German embassy felt particularly embarrassed. What if the
fashion catches on among the two million Turks living in Germany? What if the Europeans
take a liking to this book and instead of seeing it as a sinister historical document, start
admiring its „depth” and follow „spirituality”? The poor EU principal that praises Turkey in
anticipation of her triumphant entry into the EU says censorship in Turkey is bad and
instinctively calls „Nazi” anyone who questions EU wisdom and credibility. Yet when an
army of true Nazis comes up together with the beloved candidate the principal chooses
ostrich-diplomacy and changes the topic of conversation.
So while the infallible EU kept silent not to make a mistake by calling a spade a spade the
fearful Germans tried their luck with naughty Turkey. They did not protest against the
contents of „Kavgam”. As in Germany it is forbidden to read it, so probably they were
unaware of what it was all about. What they knew is that „Kavgam” sold and brought much
money to the publishers. Bavarian Finance Minister Kurt Faltlhauser noticed with regret that
his state – Bavaria - earned nothing and found it unjust as Bavaria was entitled to have a share
in the profits made. So 2 years ago Bavaria sued the Turkish publishers as she is the legal
copyright holder of "Mein Kampf". The explanation for that is quite whimsical just like
Germany’s history. The official registration address of Adolf Hitler was Munich
Prinzregentenplatz 16 and after Hitler's suicide on 30.04.1945 all his property was inherited
by the Free State of Bavaria. This heritage includes also the copyright for Hitler's book which
expires only on 31.12.2015.
Now copyrights imply fees from using them by third parties. Bavaria received not a single penny
from the Turkish publishers and it was logical that it sued. Again , officially it was not the genocidal
career of the author of the book that mattered before the law. And it was a hard legal dispute for the
Bavarian laywers hired by the Bavarian Finance Ministry. It was won a days ago and now publishing
and distribution of „Kavgam” had to be officially forbidden. The Germans have calmed down. They
may have a good conscience now , may they not? With some legal tricks and crooky arguments they
have done a good work for humanity’s sake. But how about the Jews who still live in Turkey? Will
they also feel happy comparing the grim historical reality and wonderful legal fiction? The growth of
Turkish population since 1923 has been amazing. But not for the Turkish Jews. In 1923 there were
100 000 of them in Turkey. Now they don’t even reach 25 000. Ataturk’s constitution guaranteed them
all liberties and rights. But who else if not Ataturk stood behind the pogroms and expropriations of
Jews from European Turkey in 1934? In 1942 while Hitler’s death camps were working day and night
to gas the Jews to death , the Turks decide to ruin them with a special property tax. Those unable to
pay were threatened with arrest and forced labour camps. 30 000 Jews preferred to emigrate than go to
the Turkish camps. In September 1955 in Istanbul more pogroms happened and 10 000 more Jews left
the country. Bombings of synagogues, destroying Jewish cemeteries and other routine anti-Semitic
activities in Turkey are quite frequent. In 1986 in Neve-Shalom-Synagoge in Istanbul 22 people were
killed. In 1992 in the same place many were wounded. In 1994 in a café in Istanbul frequented by
Jewish intellectuals a bomb exploded. A cinema critic and a Jewish female archaelogist were killed. In
1995 Yuda Yurum, president of the Jewish community in Ancara survived by miracle a car bomb
attack. In 1996 the synagoge in Ankara was desacrated. In 2001 Uzeyir Garih , a Jewish businessman,
was stabbed to death. In November 2003 two synagogues were bombed in a spectacular attack with 57
dead. And still Turkey is full of rumours of Jewish conspiracies and viles conceived against Turkey
and the world , especially its Moslem part.

The dragon’s teeth have been sown. We are waiting to see the Grey Wolf reap their harvest.