Melville House Books

Civic authorities in the German state of Bavaria, which holds the rights to Adolf Hitler‘s book Mein Kampf, say they are “seeking legal action to prevent the book from being published in Poland.” According to an Associated Press wire story, “The book, which details the Nazi dictator’s anti-Semitic views and other beliefs, is due to go on sale in a few days. Polish publisher XXL said it wants to make a historical record available, but it also cites ‘a 1,000-year-old worry’ among Poles about ‘the German dream of vast fertile lands and natural resources in the east.’” But Bavarian Finance Minsiter Kurt Faltlhauser issued a statement reitierating that Bavaria owns the rights and “Bavaria applies those rights very restrictively to prevent the spread of Nazi ideology.” Faltlhauser says Bavaria has “asked Germany’s Foreign Ministry to instruct its diplomats in Poland to seek a court injunction against the book.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.