Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' Becomes Best-Seller In Turkey
 

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Is it just curiosity -- or a sign of growing anti-Semitism and anti-American sentiment in Turkey?

Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" has suddenly become a best seller in Turkey, following the release of two cheap paperback versions.

The books were printed without permission from Bavaria, which holds the book's copyright. Bavaria's finance minister said it shouldn't have been reprinted.

Some analysts said many Turks are angry over violence between Israelis and Palestinians, along with U.S. policy in neighboring Iraq. But others chalk up the sales to a cheap price.

One student who bought a copy said he became intrigued after seeing it on TV and becoming curious about Hitler's life.

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I don't know if it's a sign of the growing Anti-Semitism or Anti-Americanism in Turkey.... I'd say more likely curiosity.

Now someone (maybe Rudey) correct me if I'm worng, but I'd always understood that Mein Kampf' wasn't exactly readily available to the general populace in Turkey and many places outside of the "western world".

Personally I'm somewhat concerned that Hitler's book is reaching an audience that won't know or understand the context of his rantings or what this book ultimately produced.

I agree - I've heard of dozens of books which reached great popularity in the countries where they had previously been banned.

I have never read Mein Kampf, but have long wanted to do so. Conversely, I don't know that I even want that filth in my house!

I thought that Mein Kampf was basic college reading particularly in the social sciences. I had to read it in high school and a few times in college.

Seriously, I thought so, too - especially with the number of courses I took that pertained to WWII, Nazi Germany, and/or the Holocaust. But for some reason, it was never on the required reading list. Some of the professors I had for these courses were more than a little goofy, though.

I don't know about Turkey for sure, but Nazi texts and anti-semitic literature are wide-spread throughout the middle east and Arab lands. Egypt had a widely popular television show based on the Elders of Zion.

And I'm sure that the Turks are very interested in what led to the Holocaust given that they took such a great interest in the Armenian genocides.

-Rudey