Holocaust denial

Holocaust denial is the false claim that Nazi Germany and its collaborators did not commit genocide against European Jews. This occurs during World War II, when approximately six million Jews were murdered. Deniers use negationism to ignore overwhelming historical evidence. They often claim the genocide was a fabrication or an exaggeration. Some falsely assert the Nazi "Final Solution" only meant deporting Jews rather than exterminating them. Others claim that extermination camps and gas chambers were not used for mass murder.

There is a major difference between denial and legitimate historical revisionism. Revisionism is the practice of updating history with new, accurate information. Real historians use new empirical evidence to refine our understanding of the past. They acknowledge a convergence of irrefutable evidence that an event actually occurred. In contrast, Holocaust deniers start with a predetermined conclusion. They ignore or minimize essential facts to fit their own views. Because of this, scholars use the term "denial" to distinguish these views from real history.

Denial has different roots and motivations across the globe. In postwar Europe, writers like Maurice Bardèche and Paul Rassinier began these movements. In the United States, the Institute for Historical Review provided a pseudo-scholarly platform for these ideas. Some people are motivated by antisemitism, German nationalism, or sympathy for National Socialism. In the Islamic world, denial is sometimes used to delegitimize the state of Israel. Iran is a leading state sponsor of these views. They embed denial into official ideology through state-backed conferences and contests.

During the war, the Nazis attempted to conceal their crimes through active deception. They used trucks labeled with Red Cross symbols to hide their actions. They also told victims they were being "resettled" to prevent resistance. Heinrich Himmler, a high-ranking Nazi leader, ordered camp commandants to destroy records and crematoria. As defeat became likely, the Nazis worked to destroy all evidence of mass extermination. For example, in 1943, soldiers dug up and burned the bodies of 25,000 Jews at Rumbula. This was done to hide the scale of the murder.

Many people worked to preserve the historical record despite these efforts. In 1943, Isaac Schneersohn helped form a center to document the persecution in France. This group later became the Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation. In 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower saw the concentration camps with his own eyes. He feared people might later call the evidence propaganda. Therefore, he ordered many photographs to be taken of the sites. He also made sure local people saw the camps to witness the truth.

The Nuremberg trials from 1945 to 1946 were vital for documenting Nazi crimes. These trials aimed to bring justice to the German government for its atrocities. Many core documents used in the trials came from Jewish documentation centers. Later, the trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961 brought the Holocaust to global attention. The Israeli government arranged for massive media coverage of the trial. People watched live television broadcasts of the proceedings from around the world. This helped create a comprehensive historical record for the public.

Today, Holocaust denial is viewed as a serious societal problem. Many nations have taken legal steps to address it. It is illegal to engage in Holocaust denial in Canada, Israel, and many European countries. Germany also has laws against it. The United Nations General Assembly has also passed resolutions condemning denial in 2007 and 2022. These actions aim to protect the truth of the historical record. Understanding the difference between history and denial remains essential for society.