Mein Kampf

Volume 2, Chapter 3
Subjects and Citizens
In general the formation which today is erroneously designated as a state knows only
two varieties of people: citizens and foreigners. Citizens are all those who either by
their birth or subsequent naturalization possess the right of citizenship. Foreigners are
all those who enjoy this same right in another state. In between, there are comet-like
phenomena: the so-called stateless. These are people who have the honor of
belonging to no present-day state; in other words, who nowhere possess the right of
citizenship.
Today the right of citizenship, as mentioned above, is primarily achieved by birth
within the borders of a state. In this, race or nationality play no role whatever. A
Negro, who formerly lived in the German protectorates and now has his residence in
Germany, gives birth to a German citizen in the person of his child. Likewise every
Jewish or Polish, African or Asiatic child can be declared a German citizen without
further ado.
Aside from becoming a citizen through birth, there is the possibility of naturalization
later. It is connected with certain requirements; for example, that the candidate in
question is if possible no burglar or pimp; that he furthermore be politically
unobjectionable, in other words, a harmless political idiot; that finally he should not
fall a burden to the country which grants him citizenship. In this materialistic age this
means, of course, a financial burden. Yes, it is even considered a desirable
recommendation if you are presumably a good future taxpayer to hasten the
acquisition of present-day citizenship.
Racial objections play no role whatsoever in this.
The whole process of acquiring citizenship takes place not far differently than
admission into an automobile club. The man makes his application, it is examined
and passed upon, and one day he receives a note informing him that he has become a
citizen, and even the form of this is cute and kittenish. The former Zulu Kaffir in
question is informed: 'You have hereby become a German!'
This magic trick is performed by a state president. What the heavens could not
accomplish, such an official Theophrastus Paracelsus has accomplished in the
twinkling of an eye. A simple dab of the pen and a Mongolian Wenceslaus has
suddenly become a regular 'German.'
But not only do they not concern themselves about the race of such a new citizen;
they do not even pay any attention to his physical health. Such a fellow may be as
eaten by syphilis as he likes, for the present state he is nevertheless highly welcome
as a citizen, provided that he does not, as above stated, represent a financial burden
and a political danger.
And so every year these formations, called states, take into themselves poison
elements which they can scarcely ever overcome.
The citizen himself then is only distinguished from the foreigner by the fact that the
road to all public offices is open to him, that he may have to do military service, and
that to make up for this he can actively and passively participate in elections. By and
large this is all. For the protection of personal rights and of personal freedom is
equally enjoyed by foreigners, not seldom more so; in any case, this applies in our
present German Republic.
I know that people do not like to hear all this; but anything more thoughtless, more
hare-brained than our present-day citizenship laws scarcely exists. There is today one
state in which at least weak beginnings toward a better conception are noticeable. Of
course, it is not our model German Republic, but the American Union, in which an
effort is made to consult reason at least partially. By refusing immigration on
principle to elements in poor health, by simply excluding certain races from
naturalization, it professes in slow beginnings a view which is peculiar to the folkish
state concept.
The folkish state divides its inhabitants into three classes: citizens, subjects, and
foreigners.
On principle only the status of subject is acquired by birth. The status of subject as
such does not confer the right to hold public office, nor to carry on political activity
in the sense of active or passive participation in elections. As a matter of principle,
the race and nationality of every subject must be determined. The subject is free at
any time to renounce his status of subject and become a citizen in the country whose
nationality corresponds to his own. The foreigner is distinguished from the subject
only by the fact that he is a subject of a foreign state.
The young subject of German nationality is obligated to undergo the schooling
prescribed for every German. He thus submits to education to make him a racially
conscious and patriotic national comrade. Later he must perform the supplementary
physical exercises prescribed by the state, and finally he enters the army. The training
in the army is general; it must embrace every individual German and train him in the
field of military service made possible by his physical and intellectual ability.
Thereupon, after completion of his military duty, the right of citizenship is most
solemnly bestowed on the irreproachable, healthy young man. It is the most precious
document for his whole life on earth. With it he enters upon all the rights of citizen
and partakes of all his advantages. For the state must make a sharp distinction
between those who, as national comrades, are the cause and bearer of its existence
and its greatness' and those who only take up residence within a state, as 'earning'
elements.
The bestowal of the certificate of citizenship must be associated with a solemn oath
to the national community and the state. In this document there must lie a common
bond which bridges all other gaps. It must be a greater honor to be a street-cleaner
and citizen of this Reich than a king in a foreign state.
The citizen is privileged as against the foreigner. He is the lord of the Reich. But this
higher dignity also obligates. The man with out honor or character, the common
criminal, the traitor to the fatherland, etc., can at any time be divested of this honor.
He thus again becomes a subject.
The German girl is a subject and only becomes a citizen when she marries. But the
right of citizenship can also be granted to female German subjects active in economic
life.