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The Department of History, University of Northampton & The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team

 

 

 

Holocaust Denial & Debunking 

“What is it good for?”  -   “Absolutely Nothing!”

 

 

In nearly 40 years of holocaust research, I have never given more than a few seconds thought regarding Holocaust Denial.

 

"But is that wise?"

 

Up to now I thought so, what would be the point, of spending any substantial amount of precious time on debating with Holocaust Deniers, given the abundance of evidence available, ranging from films, photographs, eyewitness testimony, documents and admissions from those who took part in one of the worst crimes in the history of mankind.

 

Thanks to the internet, the Deniers have had priceless opportunities to speedily put forward their views, and this in turn has led to a number of websites, countering their views, and thus a cottage industry of sorts has grown up.

 

Visiting some of these sites one is struck by the enormous amount of wasted effort, both in terms of arguing with Deniers, who will never change their particular view, unless some “ultimate proof” is provided, and the Deniers spending their time, peddling their seemingly senseless viewpoints, happy to be engaged in ‘debate.’

 

In addition, those self proclaimed “Debunkers” of revisionist theories are in many ways no different than the Deniers themselves. Most are only seeking a conflict or debate to engage in, and debunking revisionism affords them some sort of “moral high ground” to do it from.

 

Clearly, a view could be formed that the “ultimate proof” has already been provided, but the Deniers choose not to believe it. And no matter what – the Deniers views are unlikely to change and does the world doesn’t really need “Noble-Debunkers” to keep the rest of us safe from such idiotic theories or treatises.

 

So in essence, debating the number of victims at Belzec and Sobibor death camps at length, the type of engine used at Treblinka to gas hundreds and thousands of innocent Jewish men, women and children, the true nature of deportations East - was it six million murdered or  8 million, what does all this effort achieve?

 

It is difficult to know why someone should choose to go down the Denier path, perhaps as a result of anti-Semitism, or seeking their fifteen minutes of fame through controversial outbursts, whilst ignoring the overwhelming evidence for the Holocaust, even just as a mechanism for spreading hate and intolerance- who can be sure.

 

With recent well publicised comments from Bishop Dr Richard Williamson, who in a Swedish television interview in January 2009 said:

 

Bishop Richard Williamson

“There was not one Jew killed by the gas chambers. It was all lies, lies, lies,”

 

In light of such a public outburst, perhaps my stance needs to change. I will note that the Bishop also made went on to say:

 

"Killed in Nazi concentration camps, but none of them by gas chambers.”

 

Resulting from the furore that inevitably followed such comments, the Bishop sent a letter of apology to the Vatican. In the letter he expressed regret by stating:

 

“Observing these consequences I can truthfully say that I regret having made such remarks. If I had known beforehand the full harm and hurt to which they would give rise, especially to the Church, but also to survivors and relatives of victims of injustice under the Third Reich, I would not have made them.

 

To all souls that took honest scandal from what I said, before God I apologise, as the Holy Father has said, every act of unjust violence against one man hurts all mankind.”

 

In writing this short editorial essay for H.E.A.R.T, I suppose my stance has de-facto changed slightly, when respected pillars of society indulge in Holocaust Denial, then there should be outrage, and such views should be challenged, for it is an insult to all those Jews as well as countless numbers of other innocent victims, who perished in the course of the Nazi genocide of hatred.

 

So in conclusion...

 

"What is Holocaust Denial & Debunking Good for?

 

“Absolutely nothing!”

 

 

- Chris Webb

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright: Chris Webb 2009 H.E.A.R.T

 

 
 
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