Jason Ryoo

Professor Arnold

INTL 3111 – 001

18 October 2018

Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

For many people, book is their way to learn new ideas and develop themselves. Almost

everyone who been to school had a chance a read a book that reason – learning new things.

However, sometimes that “new learning” can be a topic that is controversial in some

controversial in some countries, leading to a ban of that particular book. Adolf Hitler’s

biography, Mein Kampf, is an example of a book banned for discussing controversial topic in

Germany for 70 years.

Adolf Hitler, author of Mein Kampf, was a chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945. He

is known to be responsible for Holocaust that killed almost 17 million Jewish people. He

describes how German people are the master race and elimination of Jews are necessary for

Germany. He also calls for revenge toward France for punishment from World War II, which

became one of the reasons German people were attracted to Hitler’s idea. After World War II

ended, copyrights were transferred to Bavarian government of Germany. Even though Mein

Kampf was never banned in Germany by law, Bavarian government did not grant publishing

rights to any publishers until copyright expired in 2016, technically banning the book in

Germany for 70 years.

By banning the book, government can stop controversial topic from becoming an issue as it

would be harder for general public to access banned books. However, banning the book does not

mean government can stop people from accessing banned books; in fact, there is a possibility of
people accepting dangerous ideas like antisemitism easily because they would not be educated

about how dangerous it is. Therefore, publishing a book with comments by historians and

socialists about why Hitler’s idea is wrong would be a better solution, so that people know why

fascism is dangerous.

Banning a book can be easiest way from controversial books like Mein Kampf becoming an

issue. However, it cannot solve a problem forever - and the book can send wrong information to

people without any explanation why this particular idea is wrong.