|
Annotated reprints of Hitler's semi-autobiographical book Mein Kampf, or My Struggle, are going on sale in Germany and elsewhere this week, after the copyright to the book expired at the end of last year. The new German publication of Hitler's political manifesto for the first time after 70 years has sparked a debate about whether it is right to reprint the anti-Semitic work. The German state of Bavaria, which held the copyright to Hitler's book from 1945, refused anyone the rights to publish it out of respect for victims of the Nazis. But on January 1, the work entered the public domain, and several publishers have prepared annotated reprints for sale. Jewish communities say the book is a stark reminder of the evil it inspired. "To find Mein Kampf in the windows of bookstores would be...I just can't imagine it. I hope this will be prevented for going against sedition laws," said Charlotte Knobloch of the Center for the Israelite Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria. The book is not banned in Germany and there is little authorities can do. "It's not easy to ban this for copyright reasons; however, anything that seems to be a hate crime can be pursued. Criminal offenses related to a hate crime will be very systematically pursued in the future," said Heiko Maas, Germany's justice minister. There also are arguments that the 800-page book should be demystified, and that the best way to do that is to publish a properly annotated edition. | 
