Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' sold in German bookstores for first time in 70 years

BERLIN, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Adolf Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf returned to bookstores in Germany for the first time in 70 years on Friday.

An annotated, critical version was placed on sale at bookstores across the country after the copyright, held by the Bavarian government, expired allowing the book to be republished.

The re-release is being touted as an effort to undermine the power and mystique the book held by being out of publication for so many years.

"The critical edition of Mein Kampf should be understood as a contribution to the historical and political enlightenment. The aim is to deconstruct Hitler and is propaganda in a sustainable manner," book publisher Institute of Contemporary History Munich-Berlin said according to Politico.

Their report also states that this limited 4,000 copy reprinting contains approximately 3,500 annotations and has 2,000 pages opposed to the original's 800.

Bavaria withdrew a $546,075 offer to fund the project in 2013 at the request of head of the Christian Social Union Horst Seehofer.

"I cannot put a request for a [National Democratic Party] ban in Karlshrue, and then give official approval for the diffusion of Mein Kampf -- that's bad," he said.

German bookstores have taken a varied stance on the book's reappearance with some refusing to stock the book and others choosing not to display the tome.

Dussmann, Berlin's largest bookstore, told the BBC the book will not be advertised. The bookseller said it will only stock one copy in the history section with additional copies available by request.