Alex Constantine - March 28, 2014
Internet millionaire and alleged cyber-pirate Kim Dotcom has admitted owning one of the rarest pieces of Nazi memorabilia in existence.
On the eve of the launch of his Internet Party, Dotcom has confirmed he purchased one of the first copies of Adolf Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, signed by the man who went on to establish the Third Reich.
Dotcom fronted up to 3 News to talk politics, not expecting questions about Nazi memorabilia.
"I'm a Call of Duty player right, so if you know the game Call of Duty it's all about World War II," says Dotcom. "I'm a big fan of that and I've bought material from Stalin, from Churchill and Hitler."
That "material" includes a very significant and contentious piece of Nazi history.
"I did buy a book at an auction, which Adolf Hitler wrote – Mein Kampf."
Mein Kampf, or My Struggle, is Hitler's fanatical autobiography, full of what would become Nazi ideology. Four years ago Dotcom bought quite possibly the rarest copy on earth.
"Adolf Hitler wrote that book in prison," says Dotcom. "He wrote it with a cellmate there. He signed that book out to that cellmate. So it was one of the first prints and probably the first book that he signed."
Dotcom stores the book with a friend in Europe.
"Let me make absolutely clear – I'm not buying into the Nazi ideology," says Dotcom. "I'm totally against what the Nazis did. I did buy a cigar holder off Churchill and a pen off Stalin."
Dotcom says his purchase is all about his love of World War II video games, and it is also an investment.
"These things are out there and they are worth a lot of money, and I think in another 100 years that book will probably go up in value times 10.
"I don't know if it's an ethical investment, but if anyone is trying to take this and use it against me, I think it's clearly wrong. You have got to look at who I am. I have all this foreign stuff."
It is confession time for Dotcom, clearing the decks ahead of his party launch tomorrow – another controversial chapter in the tale of Dotcom.