My late grandfather was Chaim ( Hymie) Baker. In 1931 he sponsored Zeev Jabotinsky extended trip to South Africa .Extended as while in South Africa , Jabotinsky was informed that he may not return to what was then called Mandate Palestine. Chaim Baker was one of the founders of the Revionist Zionist ( Herust) Movement and Betar in South Africa .He used to say , "Know the source material of your enermies better than they do" . I read and am now reviewig Hitler's Mein Kamp with that in mind . This book is not something I would keep on my desk or bed side table but I would recommend that everyone read it It can be read on line.Here is one of the links . There are many.http://childrenofyhwh.com/multimedia/library/Hitler/mein-kampf.pdf
Being the Stalag edition it has some very simple English mistakes which can be easily excused by the fact it was translated in bulk by one German officer who knew English. It may be worth someone combing through this edition just to correct that as many of the mistakes are simple typos like misspellings of words or simple replacing words with similar ones: like own for our, and so on. But saying all that, this didn’t affect the reading in any major way and certainly took nothing away from the writing style.
The main thing about this book which struck me is the narrative building and the ease of reading, which allows the reader to become immersed very quickly. The book itself is split into two volumes: the first is Hitler’s childhood, working as a manual labourer and struggling artist. his early experience of the working class, Marxists and of course Jews. He then moves on to the events of the Great War (World War I), his part in it, the unity of which Germany fought and the propaganda used by the enemy which ended the war and also pushed a narrative on Germany which helped it lose. For example the stereotype of English people being tea sippers who are cuckolded by their wife meant that the Germans did not take England serious until it was too late, and also the English propaganda which pushed the narrative that most of Germany was being abused by the Prussians, and all that Germany need do is rise against this ruling and abusing class. This led to a revolution which forced Germany to fall apart and lose the war. The war being ended made Hitler want to enter politics, he joins a German Workers Party and begins his rise into popularity. He then builds the narrative that the Germans in power were betraying their nation, race and blood by giving up areas and stopping propaganda against the German people. This is when Hitler goes into the duality of race and nation, and the strength in it. He ends the first volume by expressing the first events of his party and how they came into the German people consciousness.
The second volume begins with a long few sections which explains the world-view (Weltanschauung) and how that incorporates itself into the party: that the state has a duty to be of the people and serve it – a state which does not serve the nation (blood and soil) is against the people. He then explains the supremacy of the spoken word and how it must be used at all costs, because while people may read things and agree, it will not inflame them to change the nation and speak truth to authority. The Marxists come up a lot, and especially in the first few stages of the party because of opposition and media bias against any pro-Deutsche movement. He explains how he formed a strong arm within the party to protect the party itself and also to show the outside world it cannot destroy the will of a party which represents the Volk itself. He also explains that while the entire state may be against him, he who has no allies is strongest because the fire of competition will form a demi-god like will of steel and blood.
One part of the book which really interested me was when he explained his use of propaganda and how to use it. This one section is a must for anyone interested in how propaganda works, what its purpose is, and how to use it for your own gains and message. He then explains how and why he will deal with trade-unions, Germany and how it should treat allies and seek them, the Slavic lands and how they relate to the Deutsche blood and soil, and finally ends with the right of defence and arming yourself as individuals and a nation.
This concludes the two volumes of Mein Kampf. Of course he goes into the history of Jews in Germany, why the Germans are uncomfortable with them, how and what they are behind, and why he himself disliked the Jews and then he lays out his experiences with the Jews (especially in the form of the ideology Marxism) which led him to his conclusions. These parts are a must for anyone interested in an introduction of the JQ. Overall I would sum this book review up as: worth the read, whether you agree or not. Hitler was a momentous power mover in the same way Napoleon was, you should read him regardless of your position and conclusions.
No comments:
Post a Comment