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Mein Kampf

Chapter three of Adolf Hitler¶s Mein Kampf explores themes

and issues relating to nature, race and religion. Hitler shares

his thoughts on procreation outside of race, the superiority of

the Aryans, and the use of lesser beings in furthering the

purpose of higher beings. Using what he determines as proof, he

pontificates on the wrongdoings of Jews and the poison that they

bring to society. All told, his rant is a spectacular example

of hate and intolerance.

A modern reader would certainly be taken aback by Hitler¶s

musings. He writes that ³all great cultures of the past

perished only because the originally creative race died out from

blood poisoning´ (Hitler, Mein Kampf). This statement is not

only inflammatory, but highly false. Human beings evolve and

prosper or die out for a wide variety of reasons. To sum up a

failed race on this basis is purely incongruous with human

evolution.

Further, he openly mocks those which he considers inferior.

Their purpose, in his opinion, is to be useful to those with

predestination for greatness. He writes, ³for the formation of

higher cultures the existence of lower human types was one of

the most essential preconditions, since they alone were able to

compensate for the lack of technical aids without a higher

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development is not conceivable. It is certain that the first

culture of humanity was based less on the tamed animal than on

the use of lower human beings´ (Hitler, Mein Kampf). A new

reader could easily be offended by these barbaric sentiments.

Hitler displays both logical and illogical arguments

throughout his manifesto. When discussing the animal kingdom he

logically states, ³Every member mates with only a member of its

own species´ (Hitler, Mein Kampf). Further, he states ³In the

struggle for daily bread all those who are weak and sickly or

less determined succumb, while the struggle of the males for the

female grants the right or opportunity to propagate only to the

healthiest´, (Hitler, Mein Kampf).

While his thoughts on the animal kingdom are accurate, he

runs into trouble when he translates some of these thoughts

toward humanity. Humans do not compete for the same things that

animals do. Humans procreate voluntarily with a partner of

their choosing. The entire social structure is different for

humans. Rather than accepting the differences as acceptable for

the ³human animal´, he imagines these differences as

detrimental.

³All the human culture, all the results of art, science,

and technology that we see before us today, are almost

exclusively the creative product of the Aryan´ (Hitler, Mein

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Kampf). In making this assertion Hitler ignores the truth found

in history. The Ancient Egyptians, Mesopotamians and Mayans, to

name a few, were not Aryan but were profound in the evolution of

humanity¶s art, culture and development.

The discussion of nature¶s intention through Hitler¶s

manifesto is surprisingly unknowing. His assertions that nature

wants one thing or another are without merit. Nature allows for

whatever nature allows. If procreation is possible between two

species, then it is an allowance of nature. He declares that

³No more than Nature desires the mating of weaker with stronger

individuals, even less does she desire the blending of a higher

with a lower race, since, if she did, her whole work of higher

breeding, over perhaps hundreds of thousands of years, might be

ruined with one blow´ (Hitler, Mein Kampf). He has such a strong

sense of what nature wants and does not want. What he does not

provide is proof of his opinions. He is neither a student nor a

naturalist. He is just a man with an opinion.

The hypocrisy of Hitler¶s statements seems lost on him.

When he writes, ³The Aryan is not greatest in his mental

qualities as the such, but in the extent of his willingness to

put all his abilities in the service of the community´, (Hitler,

Mein Kampf) he loses the idea of what a community really is. If

all humans are a community then race, religion and gender would

be irrelevant. But for Hitler, a non-Aryan is not part of the

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community that › belongs to.

The despicable diatribe relating to Jews is unconscionable.

Once again, his strong opinions are nonfactual. He writes of

the Jews as not culture-creators but as culture-bearers. This

sentiment is expressed as though the Jews have no creative

thoughts or culture. In fact, the Jews created a prominent

language and culture all their own. He speaks of their coldness

in relation to fellow man and business matters, but does not

acknowledge their prowess and intellect in success.

Rather than sounding envious of successful Jews, Hitler

negates their success to that of selfishness and greed. If an

Aryan behaved as his perceived Jew did, Hitler would celebrate

him. But he has such derisive feelings toward Jews that all he

can express is contempt. He states, ³In the Jewish people the

will to self-sacrifice does not go beyond the individual¶s naked

instinct of self-preservation´ (Hitler, Mein Kampf).

Ironically, throughout his manifesto Hitler is looking for Aryan

self-preservation and blood purity. That which he revels in

within his own race, he reviles in another.