A satirist in Germany makes the case for republishing Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'
Serdar Somuncu says the republication of 'Mein Kampf' in Germany is important because it challenges the ideologies that led to it being published and widely read in the first place.
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Different editions of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf are on display at the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich. The book had been banned in Germany since his death. (Matthias Balk/dpa/AP)
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As It Happens7:30Copyright expires on Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' lifting German publishing ban
For the first time in 70 years, new copies of what might be the most reviled book in the world can be purchased in Germany.
On Friday, the copyright on Adolf Hitler's Nazi manifesto Mein Kampf expired, meaning it can now be reprinted in Germany, where it has been banned since Hitler's death. The Institute for Contemporary History is reprinting a heavily annotated version of the book that it says will expose "the lies, half-truths and vicious tirades" the book contains.
But the decades old ban has not prevented Germans from reading Mein Kampf, or in some cases, having it read to them.
Serdar Somuncu has read Mein Kampf more than 1400 times. (http://somuncu.de/)
Author and comedian Serdar Somuncu has read Mein Kampf aloud to audiences in Germany more than 1,400 times as part of a satirical performance. Somuncu spoke to As It Happens guest host Helen Mann about why he thinks the lifted ban is "ridiculous" and what he hopes to achieve through his comedic readings of the Nazi manifesto.
Helen Mann: Mr. Somuncu, what do you think of the fact people in Germany can now buy their own newly printed copy of Mein Kampf?
Serdar Somuncu: For me it's no surprise because the book was available already. It's just news right now that the Bavarian government gives the copyright to make the book available for everyone. Copies have been printed for almost 70 years all over the world, not only in Germany.
HM: Haven't you only been able to get it under certain circumstances, in libraries and that sort of thing?
SS: Not only in libraries ... the only difference right now is that the Bavarian government tries to keep the monopoly to sell the book. For me, it's ridiculous.
HM: Why did you decide you should read Mein Kampf on stage in front of audiences in Germany?
SS: At that time, when I started my readings, it was 1996. Germany had a serious problem with a right wing movement so I tried to give my personal answer in an artistic way to this problem. It was a good answer because most of the audience, especially in eastern Germany where the right movement is very strong, they didn't even know what's in the book, and that was my main goal, to bring this to the people.
The new editions of the book, including one for students, include critical commentary. (dapd/Lennart Preiss/AP)
HM: How did people react to your performance initially?
SS: They reacted in very different ways. Some were surprised, some were frightened but mostly they were thankful for the work that I did because as you said before it's really difficult to get the book right now in Germany. The job that I did for them was just to show them how ridiculous this book is and what's written inside.
HM: Not everyone laughed though — you actually had protesters. What happened during some of those performances?
SS: The protests first came from different sides. In the beginning of my readings it came from the left-wing side who said, "[he's] not allowed to read Mein Kampf without commenting on it," and then after three, four, fives years it changed and the right side became more angry about my readings. But my goal is to be an artist on stage and I don't give much about the audience whether they like my job or not — it's not my problem.
HM: Is it true you had to wear a bulletproof vest?
SS: Yes. That was in 1999. We received a threat from somebody and I had to wear a bulletproof vest. But only one time — and that's enough.
Author and comedian Serdar Somuncu once had to wear a bulletproof vest during a Mein Kampf reading. (somuncu.de) SS: The German society has changed a lot in the past 20 years and on one side, especially the German youth, they want to be more open. On the other side, conservative Germans want to preserve things like the prohibition of Mein Kampf. It's a good process for me to see that there is a discussion about how Germans want to identify themselves with a new image of being German.
HM: So you don't think this will fuel anymore right wing activity that already exists?
SS: No, no. There are much more dangerous things which you can buy without any problems. You can even order Mein Kampf from England to Germany and what's really funny is the copyright of the english version is owned by a German bookseller. So as I said — it's ridiculous.
HM: Will you be getting a new copy?
SS: [Laughs] No, I'm off with Mein Kampf. I've done my business with it and it's really boring to read this stuff again and again.
