In March 1939, James Murphy, a Cork man, became a wanted figure in Nazi Germany. As Europe hurtled towards war, Murphy published an unedited English translation of Hitler’s notorious book, Mein Kampf, which revealed Hitler’s long-held intentions to invade Eastern Europe. However, Murphy's story is complicated. Often presented as an opponent of the Nazis, he had also, for a time, worked in the Third Reich.

The full story behind the translation is intriguing. It reveals how Murphy was manipulated by a secret anti-Nazi group known as the Red Orchestra. It also explores why Murphy, who was aware of many of the darker aspects of the Nazi regime, did not draw attention to them.

Sound: Kate Dunlea

Additional Narrations: Aidan Crowe

Support the show and get an ad-free version of the episode at Patreon.com/irishpodcast.

Selected Sources:

Maume P. Murphy, James Vincent, Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/murphy-james-vincent-a6080

Barnes, J. & P. James Vincent Murphy: Translator and Interpreter of Fascist Europe, 1880-1946

Evans, R. The Hitler Conspiracies The Third Reich and the Paranoid Imagination

Murphy James: Adolf Hitler; the drama of his career https://archive.org/details/Bellerophon5685_yahoo_AHDC/page/n69/mode/2up?q=Jews

Murphy, John Why did my grandfather translate Mein Kampf?

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30697262

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