TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION

In the following October Napoleon entered Berlin in triumph, after the

Battle ofJena,*
After the fall of Napoleon a movement set-in for the reunion of the
German states in one Empire. But the first decisive step towards that
end was the foundation of the Second German Empire in 1871, after the
Franco-Prussian War. This Empire, however, did not include the
German lands which remained under the Habsburg Crown. These were
known as German Austria. It was Bismarck's jdream to unite German
Austri with the German Empire, but it remained only a dream until
Hitler (later) turned it into a reality in 1938. It is well to bear that point
in mind, because this dream of reuniting all the German states in one
Reich has been a dominant feature of German patriotism and
ideals
statesmanship for over a century and has been one of Hitler's
since his childhood.
East
In Mein Kampf Hitler often speaks of the East Mark. This
as the
Mark - i. e., eastern frontier land - was founded by Charlemagne
eastern bulwark of the Empire. It was inhabited principally by
Germano-Celtic tribes called Bajuvari and stood for centuries as the
from the East,
firm bulwark of Western Christendom against invasion
identical with
especially against the Turks. Geographically it was almost
German Austria.
mention in this
There are a few points more that I wish to
Weltanschauung
introductory note. For instance, I have left the word
English word to
stand in its original form very often. We have no one
word, and it would have
convey the same meaning as the German circumlocution each time
burdened the text too much if Iwere to use a
'Outlook on the
the word occurs. Weltanschauung literally means
outlook on the world
World'. But as generally used in German this
an organic unity
means a whole system of ideas associated together in
religious ideas, politics,
ideas of human life, human values, cultural and human existence. Thus
economics, etc., in fact a totalitarian view of
Mohammedanism
Christianity could be called a Weltanschauung, and
called a
could be called a Weltanschauung, and Socialism could be
Weltanschauung, especially as preached in Russia. National Socialism
claims definitely to be a Weltanschauung.
* In 1806 Frederick William II of Prussia secretly signed an alliance with Russia for a
Coalition against Napoleon. As the Prussian army moved through Saxony to meet its
Russian allies, it faced a French attack from the rear. The Prussians split their forces
between Auerstedt and Jena, and Napoleon swept the Prussian troops off the field at
Jena. At the same time, a secondary French force under Louis Davout defeated a
Prussian army more than twice its size at Auerstedt.