BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book

Subject: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 07:20 AM

It is widely reported that Hitler's famous work Mein Kampf [= 'My Struggle'] comes out of copyright today, and news items are illustrated by pictures of the first edition.

What did Hitler mean by "Abrechnung" in the subtitle -- 'ein Abrechnung von Adolf Hitler'?

According to all authorities I have consulted, the word means an account or bill or invoice or statement or reckoning in the financial sense. Can any German speaker tell us how the figurative or symbolic sense clearly intended here might be convincingly translated?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 08:26 AM

I have always translated "abrechnung" as meaning "reckoning" which does work in both situations. My German, and it isn't very good, is from working in Munich, rather than taking it as a subject at school so is far more Bavarian than High German, and has Austrian influence. I would have thought his dialect would be similar.

For the purpose of clarification, I have two balls, don't wish to march into Poland after a few beers and I eat meat.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 08:54 AM

Danke schön, Herr Guest!

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: beeliner
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 09:17 AM

Colloquially (did I spel that wright?), Abrechnung is the act of "getting even" or "settling accounts" with someone.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: michaelr
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 02:53 PM

Beeliner ist korrekt.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 03:36 PM

... even tho, unlike the late President Kennedy, he misses by just one letter being 'ein Berliner'.

Many thanks to all for this clarification.

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Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: meself
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 03:44 PM

That would be Hitler's INfamous work, would it not? (Of course, one hates to be a pedant, doesn't one?).

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 04:17 PM

It is both famous and infamous. Despite appearances, these two words are not precise antonyms, as infamous does not mean 'not famous', but 'famous for an unworthy reason'.

Without wishing to appear either vain or pedantic*, I would observe that I consider myself sufficiently linguistically well-versed as to render it inadvisable to challenge me on matters of semantics.

≈M≈

*or anyhow, not much, as the great Damon Runyon would observe.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 08:56 PM

I purchased my copy...almost twenty years ago....through Antique Book Emporiun (ABE).

It was more on a challenge to prove a friend wrong and I
marked it throughout. Read some chapters twice and even thrice.

My copy came from Austrailia and was published by Henry Ford.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The friend was right...the agenda was clearly published.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: meself
Date: 01 Jan 16 - 11:09 PM

" ... infamous does not mean 'not famous', but 'famous for an unworthy reason'."

Which is, of course, precisely the way I was using it.

And we all know that you consider yourself sufficiently linguistically well-versed as to, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: The subtitle of Hitler's book
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 02 Jan 16 - 01:47 AM

That was not the implication of your post, yerself. Rather, you seemed to be implying·····

Oh, sodit'n'ɷ'✌! Life·2·short ——— Let it pass.

HappiNewYr whevs......

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