Holocaust denial David Irving

1 holocaust denial

1.1 movement towards holocaust denial
1.2 zündel trial
1.3 holocaust denial lecture circuit

holocaust denial
movement towards holocaust denial

over years, irving s stance on holocaust changed significantly. 1988, started espouse holocaust denial openly; had not denied holocaust outright , reason, many holocaust deniers ambivalent him. admired irving pro-nazi slant in work , fact possessed degree of mainstream credibility lacked, annoyed did not openly deny holocaust. in 1980, lucy dawidowicz noted although hitler s war sympathetic third reich, because irving argued hitler unaware of holocaust opposed denying holocaust, book not part of anti-semitic canon . in 1980, irving received invitation speak @ holocaust-denial conference, refused under grounds appearance there damage reputation. in letter, irving stated reasons refusal as: pure realpolitik on part. dangerously exposed, , cannot take chance of being caught in flak meant others! though irving refused @ time appear @ conferences sponsored holocaust-denying institute historical review (ihr), did grant institute right distribute books in united states. robert jan van pelt suggests major reason irving wishing keep distance holocaust deniers in 1980s desire found own political party called focus.

in footnote in first edition of hitler s war, irving writes, cannot accept view… [that] there exists no document signed hitler, himmler or heydrich speaking of extermination of jews . in 1982, irving made attempt unify of various neo-nazi groups in britain 1 party called focus, in play leading role. irving described himself moderate fascist , spoke of plans become prime minister of united kingdom. effort failed due fiscal problems. irving told oxford mail of having links @ low level british national front. irving described spotlight, main journal of liberty lobby, excellent fortnightly paper . @ same time, irving put copy of hitler s prophecy speech of 30 january 1939, promising annihilation of jewish race in europe if jewish financiers started world war, onto wall.

following failure of focus, in september 1983, irving first time attended conference of ihr. van pelt has argued that, failure of irving s political career, felt freer associate holocaust deniers. @ conference, irving did not deny holocaust, did appear happy share stage robert faurisson , judge wilhelm stäglich, , claimed impressed allegations of friedrich berg mass murder using diesel gas fumes @ operation reinhard death camps impossible. @ conference, irving repeated claims hitler ignorant of holocaust because busy being soldier . in speech @ conference, irving stated: isn t right tel aviv claim david irving talking nonsense , of course adolf hitler must have known going in auschwitz , treblinka, , in same breath claim that, of course our beloved mr. begin didn t know going on in sabra , chatilla . during same speech, irving proclaimed hitler biggest friend jews had in third reich . in same speech, irving stated operated in such way bring himself maximum publicity. irving stated that: have @ home... filing cabinet full of documents don t issue @ once. keep them: issue them bit @ time. when think name hasn t been in newspapers several weeks, well, ring them , phone them , say: one, then?

a major theme of irving s writings since 1980s belief had been great blunder on part of britain declare war on germany in 1939, , ever since , result of decision, britain had slipped unstoppable decline. irving took view hitler tried jews of europe. in june 1992 interview daily telegraph, irving claimed have heard hitler s naval adjutant führer had told him not marry because germany bride . irving claimed have asked naval adjutant when hitler made remark, , upon hearing date 24 march 1938, irving stated in response herr admiral, @ moment being born . irving used alleged incident argue there sort of mystical connection between himself , hitler.

in 1986 speech in australia irving argued photographs of holocaust survivors , dead taken in 1945 allied soldiers proof allies responsible holocaust, not germans. irving claimed holocaust not work of nazi leaders, rather of nameless criminals , , claimed these men [who killed jews] acted on own impulse, own initiative, within general atmosphere of brutality created second world war, in of course allied bombings played part. in 1986 speech, time in atlanta, irving claimed historians have blindness when comes holocaust because tay-sachs disease jewish disease causes blindness .

by mid-1980s, irving associated himself ihr, began giving lectures groups such far-right german deutsche volksunion (dvu), , publicly denied nazis systematically exterminated jews in gas chambers during world war ii. irving frequent speaker dvu in 1980s , 1990s, relationship ended in 1993 apparently because of concerns dvu irving s espousal of holocaust denial might lead dvu being banned.

in 1986, irving visited toronto, met @ airport holocaust denier ernst zündel. according zündel, irving thought revisionist-neo-nazi-rambo-kook! , , asked zündel stay away him. zündel , supporters obliged irving staying away lecture tour, consequently attracted little media attention, , considered irving failure. afterwards, zündel sent irving long letter in offered draw publicity irving, , ensure future speaking tours success. result, irving , zündel became friends, , irving agreed in late 1987 testify zündel @ second trial denying holocaust. in addition, publication in 1987 of book der europäische bürgerkrieg 1917–1945 ernst nolte, in nolte implied maybe holocaust deniers on something, encouraged irving become more open in associating zündel.

zündel trial

in january 1988, irving travelled toronto, ontario, assist douglas christie, defence lawyer ernst zündel @ second trial denying holocaust. working closely robert faurisson, assisting defence, irving contacted warden bill armontrout of missouri state penitentiary recommended irving , faurisson touch fred a. leuchter, self-described execution expert living in boston. irving , faurisson flew boston meet leuchter, agreed lend alleged technical expertise on behalf of zündel s defence. irving argued alleged expert on gassings leuchter prove holocaust myth . after work on second zündel trial, irving declared based on exposure zündel s , leuchter s theories conducting one-man intifada against idea there had been holocaust. subsequently, irving claimed american journalist d.d. guttenplan in 1999 interview zündel had convinced him holocaust had not occurred.

in 1988 zündel trial, irving repeated , defended claim hitler s war until october 1943 hitler knew nothing actual implementation of final solution. expressed evolving belief final solution involved atrocities , not systematic murder: don t think there overall reich policy kill jews. if there was, have been killed , there not many millions of survivors. , believe me, glad every survivor there was. on 22–26 april 1988, irving testified zündel, endorsing richard harwood s book did 6 million die? on ninety percent... factually accurate .

as evidence further led irving believe holocaust never occurred, cited leuchter report fred a. leuchter, claimed there no evidence existence of homicidal gas chambers @ auschwitz concentration camp. irving said in 1999 documentary leuchter: big point [of leuchter report]: there no significant residue of cyanide in brickwork. s converted me. when read in report in courtroom in toronto, became hard-core disbeliever . in addition, irving influenced embrace holocaust denial american historian arno j. mayer s 1988 book why did heavens not darken?, did not deny holocaust, claimed of died @ auschwitz killed disease; irving saw in mayer s book apparent confirmation of leuchter s , zündel s theories no mass murder @ auschwitz.

after trial, irving published leuchter s report auschwitz end of line: leuchter report in united kingdom in 1989 , wrote foreword. leuchter s book had been first published in canada zündel s samisdat publishers in 1988 leuchter report: end of myth: engineering report on alleged execution gas chambers @ auschwitz, birkenau , majdenek. in foreword british edition of leuchter s book, irving wrote nobody likes swindled, still less considerable sums of money involved . alleged swindle reparations money totalling 3 billion dm paid federal republic of germany israel between 1952–1966 holocaust. irving described reparations being in atonement gas chambers of auschwitz , irving called myth not die . in foreword, irving praised scrupulous methods , integrity of leuchter.

for publishing , writing foreword auschwitz end of line, on 20 june 1989 irving leuchter condemned in day motion of house of commons hitler s heirs . motion went on describe irving nazi propagandist , longtime hitler apologist , auschwitz end of line fascist publication . in motion, house stated appalled [the holocaust denial of] nazi propagandist , long-time hitler apologist david irving . in response house of commons motion, irving in press statement challenged mps voted condemn him that: enter gas chambers of auschwitz , , friends may lob in zyklon b in accordance known procedures , conditions. guarantee won t satisfied results! .

in pamphlet irving published in london on 23 june 1989, made epochal announcement there no mass murder in gas chambers @ auschwitz death camp. irving labelled gas chambers @ auschwitz hoax , , writing in third person declared has placed himself [irving] @ head of growing band of historians, worldwide, sceptical of claim @ auschwitz , other camps factories of death , in millions of innocent people systematically gassed death . boasting of role in criticising hitler diaries forgery in 1983, irving wrote [irving] saying same thing infamous gas chambers of auschwitz, treblinka , majdanek. did not exist – ever – except perhaps brainchild of britain s brilliant wartime psychological warfare executive . finally, irving claimed survivors of auschwitz testimony absence of extermination programme . echoing criticism of house of commons, leader in times on 14 may 1990 described irving man whom hitler of hero , of innocent , whom auschwitz jewish deception .

holocaust denial lecture circuit

interior of gas chamber of auschwitz camp. in 1990 speech, irving stated: following thing: there no gas chambers in auschwitz. there have been mock-ups built poles in years after war.

in 1990s, irving frequent visitor germany, spoke @ neo-nazi rallies. chief themes of irving s german speeches allies , axis states equally culpable war crimes, decision of neville chamberlain declare war on germany in 1939, , of winston churchill continue war in 1940, had been great mistakes set britain on path of decline, , holocaust propaganda exercise . in june 1990, irving visited east germany on well-publicized tour entitled englishman fights honour of germans, on accused allies of having used forged documents humiliate german people. irving s self-proclaimed mission guide promising young men in germany in right direction (irving has stated belief women exist task, producing [men] , , should subservient men ; leading, in lipstadt s view, lack of interest on irving s part in guiding young german women in right direction ). german nationalists found irving, non-german holocaust denier, particularly credible.

in january 1990, irving gave speech in moers asserted 30,000 people died @ auschwitz between 1940–45, of natural causes, equal—so claimed—to typical death toll 1 bomber command raid on german cities. irving claimed there no gas chambers @ death camp, stating existing remains mock-ups built poles . on 21 april 1990, irving repeated same speech in munich, led conviction holocaust denial in munich on 11 july 1991. court fined irving dm 7,000. irving appealed judgement, , received fine of dm 10,000 repeating same remarks in courtroom on 5 may 1992. during appeal in 1992, irving called upon present in munich courtroom fight battle german people , put end blood lie of holocaust has been told against country fifty years . irving went on call auschwitz death camp tourist attraction origins irving claimed went ingenious plan devised british psychological warfare executive in 1942 spread anti-german propaganda policy of german state using gas chambers kill millions of jews , other undesirables . during same speech, irving denounced judge senile, alcoholic cretin . following conviction holocaust denial, irving banned visiting germany.

the main gate of auschwitz ii birkenau. in 1992 during appeal conviction holocaust denial, irving called auschwitz tourist attraction .

expanding upon thesis in hitler s war lack of written führer order holocaust, irving argued in 1990s absence of such order meant there no holocaust. in speech delivered in toronto in november 1990 irving claimed holocaust survivors had manufactured memories of suffering because there s money involved , can compensation cash payment out of . in speech, irving used metaphor of cruise ship named holocaust, irving claimed had ... luxury wall wall fitted carpets , crew of thousands… marine terminals established in virtually every capital in world, disguised holocaust memorial museums . irving went on assert ship due rough sailing because soviet government had allowed historians access index cards of people passed through gates of auschwitz , , claimed lead lot of people [who] not claiming auschwitz survivors anymore (irving s statement index cards incorrect; soviet government had made available in 1990 death books of auschwitz, recording weekly death tolls). irving claimed on basis of called index books that, because experts can @ tattoo , oh yes, 181, 219 means entered auschwitz in march 1943 , warned auschwitz survivors if want go , have tattoo put on arm, lot of them do, afraid say, , claim subsequently in auschwitz, have make sure a) fits in month said went auschwitz , b) not number used before .

on 17 january 1991, irving told reporter jewish chronicle jews foolish not abandon gas chamber theory while still have time . irving went on believed anti-semitism increase on world because jews have exploited people gas chamber legend , in ten years, israel cease exist , jews have return europe . in 1991 revised edition of hitler s war, had removed references death camps , holocaust. in speech given in hamburg in 1991, irving stated in 2 years time myth of mass murders of jews in death factories of auschwitz, majdanek , treblinka ... in fact never took place disproved (auschwitz, majdanek, , treblinka established being extermination camps). 2 days later, irving repeated same speech in halle before group of neo-nazis, , praised rudolf hess great german martyr, rudolf hess . @ 1991 speech, time in canada, irving called holocaust hoax , , again predicted 1993 hoax have been exposed . in speech, irving declared, gradually word getting around germany. 2 years too, german historians accept right. accept fifty years have believed lie . during speech given in october 1991, irving expressed contempt , hatred holocaust survivors proclaiming that:

ridicule alone isn t enough, ve got tasteless it. ve got things more women died on seat of edward kennedy s car @ chappaquiddick in gas chambers @ auschwitz. think s tasteless, this? m forming association dedicated these liars, ones try , kid people in these concentration camps, s called auschwitz survivors, survivors of holocaust , other liars, asshols . can t more tasteless that, ve got tasteless because these people deserve our contempt.

in 1991 speech, time in regina, irving called holocaust major fraud... there no gas chambers. fakes , frauds .

in november 1992, irving featured speaker @ world anti-zionist congress in stockholm cancelled swedish government. scheduled attend fellow holocaust-deniers robert faurisson , fred a. leuchter, , louis farrakhan, representatives of militant palestinian group hamas, lebanese militant shiite group hezbollah, , right-wing russian antisemitic group pamyat. in 1993 speech, irving claimed had been 100,000 jewish deaths @ auschwitz, not gas chambers. died epidemics . irving went on claim of jewish deaths during world war ii had been caused allied bombing. irving claimed concentration camp inmates arrived in berlin or leipzig or in dresden in time raf bombers set fire cities. nobody knows how many jews died in air raids . in 1994 speech, irving lamented predictions of 1991 had failed occur, , complained of persistence of belief in rotting corpse of profitable legend of holocaust. in 1994 speech, irving claimed there no german policy of genocide of jews, , 600,000 jews died in concentration camps in world war ii, due either allied bombing or disease. @ same time, irving started appear more @ annual conferences hosted ihr. in 1995 speech, irving claimed holocaust myth invented world-wide jewish cabal serve own ends. irving spoke on other topics @ ihr gatherings. frequent theme claim winston churchill had advance knowledge of japanese plans attack pearl harbor, , refused warn americans bring united states world war ii.

at same time, irving maintained ambivalent attitude holocaust denial depending on audience. in 1993 letter, irving lashed out against former friend zündel, writing that: in april 1988 unhesitatingly agreed aid defence witness in toronto. not make same mistake again. penalty having defended then, , having continued aid since, life has come under gradually mounting attack: find myself worldwide victim of mass demonstrations, violence, vituperation , persecution (emphasis in original). irving went on claim life had been wonderful until zündel had got him involved in holocaust denial movement; van pelt argues irving trying shift responsibility actions in letter. in interview australian radio in july 1995, irving claimed @ least 4 million jews died in world war ii, though argued due terrible sanitary conditions inside concentration camps opposed deliberate policy of genocide in death camps. irving s statement led public spat former ally faurisson, insisted no jews killed in holocaust. in 1995, irving stated in speech have take off hat adversaries , strategies have employed—the marketing of word holocaust: half expected see little tm after . likewise, depending on audience, irving during 1990s either used absence of written führerbefehl (führer order) final solution argue hitler unaware of holocaust, or absence of written order meant there no holocaust.