Since a child, I have always had a fascination with world war II. I know the basics and a majority of the major battles of the war, with more interest on the European front. Now that my curiosity has been re-sparked recently, I have picked up a few books including one that was not a mentally, perhaps socially easy book to buy. I ordered Mein Kampf.
This is where I would like some thought from fellow modelers. Even before opening the book, just having in my hands, i could feel the air turn dark and heavy along with the presence around me. That is something I have never experienced with a book before. The reason I picked this up is to get more of a full understanding on what inspired such a unmanageable crime on the human race. I have never known such a hate existed until I started reading this book. To keep it short, reading what I did lead to me having vividly violent dreams that night.
On a lighter note for a recent book I picked up was the third in the liberation trilogy, The Guns at Last Light, hardcover for 10 at Barnes and Noble. While browsing, there are for sure 2 more I would like to add being The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, and I forget the title, but it talkes about the folly of Gearmany when they started printing money and caused hyper inflation. I think it was printed by Penguin books. Any thoughts on good staple WWII history books to add?
The one thing that struck me about reading Mein kampf was how much of a struggle it was to read. The first time I read it, took me 11 months, and I have read books that size in just a couple of weeks before. But apparently it can depend on who’s translation you have and the one I have is not the best choice.
As someone interested in Armoured warfare in WW2, especially from the German side, I found Acthung Panzer a must read.
Interesting, I’ve thought about trying to read it but never got around to it. Just wondering is it actually readable or the ravings of a lunatic? I guess Hitler didn’t really start to lose it till near the end of the war but he seemed to be all that more dangerous at the beginning where he was half stable and half nuts.
Guess the closest thing I’ve read to controversial was Iris Chang’s ‘The Rape of Nanking’. Interesting and horrifying book about the occupation of the then Chinese capital of Nanking or Nanjing by the Japanese and the week and a half orgy of murder, rape, and looting where they killed more civilians than either atomic bomb. On a happier note she goes into British and American missionaries who smuggled thousands of Chinese at great personal risk to safety. And the German engineer Jean Rabe, who though an ardent National Socialist saved hundreds of Chinese women and children since as a Japanese ally the soldiers were afraid to cross a German like Rabe.
I would like to make a note that by no means am I a skin head or a Nazi. This is more of wanting a deeper understanding of the core of the Nazi belief and their blue print.
Bish, I heard the ford translation is a bit easier to read. The one I ordered is the Manheim Translation.
I found it to be both. There are periods when he has some easy to follow discussion and even makes some good points, and then he will go off on an anti Jewish rant for page after page. Its been a few years since I read it, but I am planning on getting a different translation and trying again at some point.
I found when I was reading it, I was constantly going back over paragraphs to re read them. After a couple of pages I was worn out and had to put it down.
Thanks Bish, I was just wondering. I think I’ll just opt for the Cliff Notes. [:P]
Zack: Just because you’re trying to understand something better certainly doesn’t mean you agree with it! I’d think the more you learn about National Socialism the more reprehensible it is.
My primary interest is the study of military history, mainly the Third Reich, Classical Greece and Ancient Rome. But as an ex soldier, I know that its not all about battles and nice shiny uniforms. Soldiers are a tool of the society they represent. As such, I have tried to study as much about those 3 society’s as possible, whether it be the politics, religion, social makeup or anything else, as well as studying the battles and weapons.
So I think a study of Mein Kampf is just as important as a study of the works of Caesar or the writings of Thucydides or anything else if one wants to at least try and understand the what went to create these states and their military might.
Bish, makes a lot of sense. Everything I’ve read on the Third Reich is from second-hand or later sources- there’s something to be said for taking it right from the horse’s mouth so to speak.
I do think its important to get an all round view. Historians have the advantage of hindsight plus access to material those pr4esent may not have had plus the ability to look at the wider picture.
Those on the scene or involved in the events will often have a narrow view of things, especially when it comes to battles. Also, those in power, will often be pushing their own agenda. It can gives us a good insight into how these people thought, but their accounts should always be treated with caution.
A friend gave me “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”($1.65) a very long time ago. I tried to read it at least a dozen times over the years and never got past around page 100 of the 1599 pages. I started reading it again about two weeks ago and I’m up to page 120. Maybe I’ll have enough time left to get to read it all this time. “Mein Kampf” has been mentioned in it quite a few times already and I started thinking that maybe I’d read it after I finish this one. A lot of names, dates, and other info for this old timer to soak up and try to remember.
I too have thought about reading it over the years. Like the “Diary of Anne Frank” it is one of those things I want to read so I can try and see the whole picture. But I have yet to get around to it for one reason or another. Mostly because, as like Bish seems to indicate, I keep hearing it can be a bear to get through. Shirer indicated that Adolph had problems staying coherent long enough without going off on strange tangents, so thus the tough read.
But Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is indeed a good read. I have read it twice and it does help to make the full picture on the National Socialist aspect, though it is a bit dated and Shirer does show a little bias at times.
And it is funny you mention The Guns at Last Light…I am about 250 pages into it right now. [:D]
For a good “Rise and Fall…” type book on Imperialist Japan check out Rising Sun by John Toland. [H]
i have had this happen to me twice. when i was stationed in germany in the '70s i got interested in the american civil war. go figure. read 1 book for names dates places than a couple of trilogies. from there it was individual battles which led to the mexican war of '46 as many generals were LTs and CPTs and knew each other. then to texas independence and the republic and overall mexican history.
the second time was when WAR IN THE PACIFIC wargame came out, played it all the time and started reading why the japanese made so many stupid decisions. this took me to china and NOMANHAN, ww1, russo-japanese war, sino-japanese war, and the meiji reformatioon.
and now i am doing the same thing with ww1 which i find fascinating, especially the other theaters like salonica, middle east, italian front, africa and the eastern front. gave a presentation on the opening moves GOEBEN to my ship club and will give it again to my denver club in august.
I’ll second “The Rising Sun” by Toland, great book…I certainly learned a lot from it. I read it during winter break a couple years ago and then read "Eagle Against the Sun"during last summer for a book about the pacific from the american point of view. Both have gotten great reviews and I enjoyed both…word of caution, if you get Eagle against the sun…make sure towards the end of the book all the pages are printed, my copy had about 30 pages blank so I had to check on out from a library to bridge the gap so to speak.
Back to the topic at hand…I have not read Mein kampf but would like to when I get the chance. This coming fall I’m taking a politics of war class for my senior year and we have to read “On War” so this summer I have my hands full of reading already…however I read a sort of…biography…of On War so I could hopefully understand it better. Apparently some of Clausewitz’s earlier manifestos were cited by Hitler…did not know that before. Anyways, as a poll sci major with my interest in being in the international relations/ security sector, I do believe it is important to understand why things are the way they are. I do plan on reading it in the future and do not think you are crazy for reading it. I’m glad I found this thread though, didn’t know anything about the translations.