Wiesenthal Center Re: The Disturbing Surge In Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ E-Book Sales

January 10, 2014

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is responding to reports that Adolph Hitler's infamous Mein Kampf has surged to the top of e-book sales, especially through Amazon’s Kindle store and Apple’s iTunes store.

“Of course, we are concerned that Hitler's infamous Mein Kampf tops e-book sales,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights NGO dedicated to imparting the lessons of the Nazi Holocaust. “There are a number of issues at play here. First, cost. Anyone curious about the worst criminal in history can get the book for under $2. Secondly, the e-format removes any legal or social stigmas surrounding Hitler in Germany and elsewhere,” Cooper said, adding:

“There are other markets: ‘Hitler as Hero’ made it to the SWC's 2013 ‘Top Ten Anti-Semitic and Anti-Israel Slurs’ list. Mein Kampf is a consistent bestseller in Turkey and tragically many Arabs and Muslims celebrate Hitler because of what he did to the Jews during the Nazi Holocaust.

Then there is Asia where people know little about WWII in Europe but are curious about this ‘strong leader.’ Last year, the Wiesenthal Center was asked to bring our ‘Courage To Remember’ Holocaust exhibit to Mumbai, where Mein Kampf had been successfully marketed as a must-read book for graduate business students as a great read of a highly organized mind. Restaurants, sports bars and even cosmetic advertising campaigns throughout Asia have featured Hitler's image.”

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).