Mein Kampf republished in Germany: Leading Jewish group has no objection to new edition of Nazi tome

A Jewish organisation in Germany said that it does not object to the publication of a new edition of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. The edition – with academic notes – will be the first to be published in Germany since World War II.

"Knowledge of Mein Kampf is still important to explain National Socialism and the Holocaust," Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told the Handelsblatt business daily.

"Therefore there are no objections to a scientifically annotated edition for research and teaching purposes."

The rights to the book – in which Hitler outlines his anti-Semitic creed – were given to the state of Bavaria after World War II. The state blocked publication of the book out of respect for the victims of the Holocaust and concern it could spark racial hatred.

The copyright will expire in January 2016 though, and the German Institute of Contemporary History (IfZ) will bring out an edition of the book with academic commentary and 3,500 annotations. IfZ director Andreas Wirsching said the edition would help to "shatter the myth" surrounding the group.

German authorities said they will restrict access to the book and prosecute publishers of unedited editions of the book on charges of inciting racial hatred.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany is a federation of German Jews that represents the country's Jewish community in the World Jewish Congress.