‘My Own Bużnannu Died Fighting Nazis’: Historian Author Hits Back After Being Accused Of Glorifying Hitler
A historian author accused of promoting Nazi propaganda while discussing his latest publication on a TVM book show has shared his shock and incredulity at the accusations.
“I’ve been writing for years, and I’ve never written in favour of Nazism,” Ronald Bugeja told Lovin Malta.
“My first ever book, Mill-Glorious Sal-Vitorja, tells the story of my own family in World War Two. It’s about how they suffered under the Nazi attacks on Malta, and includes my great-grandfather Giuseppe Francica’s personal experience during the war, where he lost his life.”
“I condemn all Nazi atrocities, I do not agree with them at all.”
Bugeja was shocked after PEN Malta issued a statement condemning him after his appearance on book show Ħajjietna Ktieb, hosted by John Demanuele, where he discussed his latest book – the first ever biography of Adolf Hitler in Maltese.
“PEN Malta is shocked and disgusted by the public broadcaster, which far from carrying out its mission of holding an informed and critical public debate, is serving as a pulpit for Nazi ideas that are the exact opposite of the values of democracy, freedom of thought and information,” the group said after the episode aired.
“Demanuele presented the book without posing any critical questions about the dangerous revisionism of this book, which glorifies and justifies Adolf Hitler, the Nazi movement and ideology, and the actions of the civil and military Nazi administration in Germany in the 20th century,” it continued.
Bugeja denied supporting any Nazi ideology, and stood by the information he included in his biography. He also hit back at accusations that his book had been funded by the state or the National Book Council – “it was all self-funded”.
“It’s a biography based on research found all over the world – I even went to Germany to confirm this information, it’s not just like I Googled it… and the quotes included were found in the original German, and I directly translated it to Maltese.”
“The book is not meant to offend any religion, party, or people – it is a biography of Hitler and his family, his background and it explains what happened for Hitler leading up to WW2.”
“I’m so affected by what he did to the Jews and other minority groups that the book doesn’t even continue into WW2, it stops before the war starts.”
Since PEN Malta’s comments, media headlines have accused Bugeja of being a ‘Nazi apologist’; TVM has removed the show, host Demanuele has been called in by TVM and Agenda Bookshop’s link to the book no longer works.
“I felt terrible when I saw the headlines – I didn’t do the interview to promote Nazi propaganda, but to explain the story with a new perspective,” he said.
As a historian who has researched everything from the history of the gallows in Malta to key figures in Maltese history, Bugeja has been left shellshocked as to the accusations being levelled against him so strongly.
“There are so many Hitler biographies out there, even online… I just can’t understand why they are so offended there’s a biography in Maltese now.”
Do you think topics like Nazi ideology can be discussed on TV or are they too sensitive?
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