The Board of Deputies has given a cautious welcome to the publication of Adolf Hitler’s notorious book Mein Kampf for the first time since the Second World War.

A new edition of the work, which details the Nazi leader’s antisemitic beliefs, is to be released in January by the Instistute of Contemporary History in Munich, with extensive annotations explaining the historical context.

German Jews are divided over the move, but Richard Verber, vice president of the Board, said the attempt to give perspective to the origins of Nazism should not be rejected.

He told the Observer: “We would, of course, be very wary of any attempt to glorify Hitler or to belittle the Holocaust in any way. But this is not that. I do understand how some Jewish groups could be upset and nervous, but it seems it is being done from a historical point of view and to put it in context..

“The key is that the notes to the text really do refute Hitler’s ideas with factual information. If that were not the case, the Board of deputies would be worried. But the fact remains Hitler is one of the most famous, or infamous, leaders of the 20th century and anything that might put a dampener on that, by showing his views in a historical light, might actually be helpful.”

Around 4,000 copies of the new edition will be printed. It is intended that it will be used by Holocaust scholars. It could also be used in German schools.