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A Look at Holocaust Denial Through the Works of a Propagandist, Ernst Zundel

by S. P.

A student essay from Dr. Elliot Neaman's History 210 class (historical methods - fall 1997)

© Elliot Neaman / PHDN
Reproduction interdite par quelque moyen que ce soit / no reproduction allowed

In order to distinguish fact from fiction, thoroughly examined evidence is necessary. There is, however, a point where reasonable judgment is essential to knowing what is truth and what is falsehood. A modern group of historians organized themselves to officially question what we accept as historical truths. Incipiently, Historical Revisionists were a valid organization with the good intention of separating what is heresy from historical fact. The group, however, is now associated with World War II’s Holocaust denial. The group’s progression from revising history to attempting to change it is the foundation for what Professor Deborah Lipstadt calls "Denying the Holocaust."

Professor Lipstadt shares what she discovered about "Revisionists" in her book, "Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory." She address the dangers of revising historical truths and she appropriates the correct name to the Revisionists who are currently "revising" World War II history. In the following excerpt from her book, Lipstadt speaks of these dangers:

"Ultimately the climate they create is of no less importance than the specific truth they attack-be it the Holocaust or the assassination of President Kennedy. It is a climate that fosters deconstructionist history at its worst. No fact, no event, and no aspect of history has any fixed meaning or content. Any truth can be retold. Any fact can be recast. There is no ultimate historical reality."

Lipstadt finds the name "Revisionist" inappropriate for an accurate description of a group who "threatens all who believe in the ultimate power of reason."

"The deniers’ selection of the name revisionist to describe themselves is indicative of their basic strategy of deceit and distortion and of their attempt to portray themselves as legitimate historians engaged in the traditional practice of illuminating the past."

As Lipstadt cautions, Holocaust deniers pose a threat to the established truths passed along to each new generation. In the following essay, through the model denier of our day, Ernst Zundel, I will examine denier philosophy, its motivation, and how it hopes to achieve what Lipstadt warns it can. I will first present the denier’s philosophy through their view and then, compare it to how Lipstadt views their doctrine. Secondly, I will explain how their motivation is to regain the German pride lost believing the Jewish persecution an historical fact. Lastly, I will show how their efforts are to change the Jewish Holocaust to an historical opinion and ultimately to an historical myth.

Bruce Hagen, an Holocaust denier who periodically writes articles for the "Zundelsite," recently submitted his opinions of what "Historical Revisionism" is. The document is entitled "Holocaust Revisionism in a Nutshell." Hagen begins by stating nine defenses of "Holocaust Revisionism." The first draws a sensitivity to terminology customarily applied to the Jewish genocide during the Second World War. He prefers the term "Jewish Holocaust" rather than "THE Holocaust." Hagen’s reasons are twofold: First to improve accuracy; and secondly, to maintain objectivity. Accuracy is an important factor, especially when speaking of historical occurrences. The Jewish Holocaust is one of the many throughout history. Objectiveness is also important since facts are the subject and not opinions. However, objectivity is also necessarily maintained in dealing with opinion. Hagen used a subtle implication that there are two understandings of the Jewish Holocaust.

In Hagen’s second defense, he sustains that "Revisionists do not "deny" the Jewish Holocaust", they are Holocaust "Diminishers." "They are questioners about what they believe are significant exaggerations in the Holocaust tale." Again, Hagen uses subtle implications that give us insightful information into his uncensored thoughts. By him calling the Holocaust a "tale," he tells us that it is not a historical fact. By that word he is denying the Jewish Holocaust. Hagen contradicts his opening sentence: "Revisionists do not "deny" the Jewish Holocaust."

In his third defense, Hagen diminishes a fact until it is denied.

"Revisionist do not deny that there was much Jewish suffering during World War II, . . . that there were terrible brutalities and atrocities committed against Jews by Germans and others. . . Revisionists do diminish the impact of these facts by pointing out that World War II was the bloodiest, deadliest, most atrocity-ridden conflict in the history of man and that there was criminal behavior on all sides."

All sides would agree with this statement. Holocaust survivors would admit that all sides, even Jews participated in criminal behaviour. . . the Jews were always the victims.

Hagen’s fourth point denies, or "diminishes," this fact that there was more criminal behavior on one side than the other. He claims that there was no attempt by Nazis, or anyone else, to exterminate the Jews. He admits that there was a successful attempt to expel the Jews from Europe. This is not immoral behavior to Hagen, however. Hagen excuses the Germans for expelling the Jews from Germany, (the only fact he will not diminish), by explaining how it was common throughout history for Jews to be expelled. "Historically there seems to be something about the Jews that brings forth a plenitude of animosity on the part of people amongst whom they live." Hagen ends his point with an anti-Semitic undertone.

The fifth defense is "proof" why "Revisionists" believe there was no Jewish genocide attempted. Hagen uses the common argument that there were no gas chambers. He claims "there is NO evidence of gas chambers that an objective person can find credible." Professor Lipstadt, in her book lists documentation that proves gas chambers were used to exterminate Jews.

Hagen then, turns to his next "Revisionist" defense which also supposedly disproves the attempt to exterminate Jews. He admits that "tens or even hundreds of thousands" of testimonies and confessions do exist. He adds, however, that "Many, if not most, of the testimonies are preposterous, preternatural, not in keeping with the laws of the physical world." He supports this claim by saying that most testifiers were coerced and threatened into lying.

Hagen’s next defenses tire the previously stated "proofs" and, therefore are not worth analyzing. He concludes these proofs by explaining that the many deaths of the Jews were due to their opposing the German advances toward the east; and "numerous other reasons." Hagen’s end note is what I call the "Revisionist" mission statement: "In 50 or 100 years, when the Holocaust Myth has met its proper demise, what Revisionists believe today will be standard historical canon from which only cranks and religious zealots will dissent." Hagen’s goal and the goal of all deniers is to change what we know as historical fact to what they believe is historical myth. Ernst Zundel, a leader and model Holocaust denier, makes achieving this goal, a life’s work.

Ernst Zundel calls himself an " ‘Holocaust’ skeptic and Revisionist." Zundel is a German immigrant living in Canada. He is a Holocaust denier propagandist who publishes literature from his mansion in Toronto, claiming that the Holocaust was a hoax. He’s considered the largest distributor of denier literature in the world.

Not only through his publishing house does he spread his theories, but also through the internet. Zundel created a website called, "Zundelsite," in which he gives extensive updates on anything having to do with Holocaust denial. The Zundelsite was created because Zundel and "his friends and associates felt it was time to respond to the fanciful tales and outright lies told about World War II Germans in entertainment, media, and education from kindergarten all the way through the fancies of doctoral footwork." The Zundelsite is very patriotic to America. The heading is a waving American banner with an inscription along the side reminding readers that all the concepts expressed is protected by the human right to freedom of speech. A handsome picture of Mr. Zundel in his warfare uniform of a construction hat and a bullet-proof vest welcomes readers. And a black ribbon accompanies him in our welcome. Zundel’s attire is his public display of his victimization as a "Freedom Fighter." The freedom he speaks of is of speech. The black ribbon next to him is worn in memory of "our fallen comrades." The ribbon day is May 8th of 1945, the day the war ended. For Zundel and his followers, this day is one of mourning because "the German people were being conquered by fire and sword - by merciless bombings and by a brutalized soldiery(mostly Soviet!) who acted every bit as conquerors and not as liberators!"

Apparently, Zundel is admired greatly for his continual efforts. He is spoken highly of among deniers:

"Ernst, I have no money to leave you. If I could I would leave you a million dollars. You have done so much over the years, and when I observed you during those terrible trials in 1985 and again in 1988, I grew to admire you. . . The world cannot ever pay you back for all the persecution, abuse, terror and upheaval caused to our life and family."

Zundel gives us and all his Zundelsite visitors an accurate portrayal of how much of a victim he really is. This quote was taken out of Zundel’s written request for the dying to put him in his will. He even admits to feeling "ghoulish" for approaching fund-raising. However, he continued with his requests and gives a paragraph long description of how everyone wants to give him money because he’s been a victim to the denier cause and needs support.

The efforts of Ernst Zundel in his pamphlets and in the Zundelsite, are part of the Holocaust denier plan to achieve world recognition and acceptance. Zundel’s strategy is concentrated on growth. He does not care what is said about Holocaust denial. He is grateful for all recognition of his group’s efforts. After Zundel’s second trial for spreading false news of the Holocaust, Zundel was upset because he did not get much media attention. To this he said, "the media acted with the utmost of cowardice and lack of morality." Media coverage is important to Zundel because the controversy behind his statements lead to curiosity and investigation. It is first recognition that the Jewish Holocaust is a debated subject that Zundel and other deniers want. In that recognition, one is admitting that there is another side to the story. However, the story of the Jewish Holocaust, is not fictional. Just as slavery and the civil war happened; just as Ronald Reagan was our president, six million Jews were killed by Germans in World War II.

Zundel’s actions are either to spread more denier recognition, or receive more monetary donations to support his cause. In his Power Letter of July 1995, Zundel placed a request for "Internet Cowboys." "Internet cowboys are people with computer skills who can surf the Internet and drop hints that people can find interesting information on our Website!" He also lists strategies:

"Don’t annoy people with cross-posting - you can achieve the same effect by letting them know what interesting information you found on our Website, or by simply mentioning an article or book or dropping questions about what you read about Revisionism on our Website. The idea is to "ride herd" on people and to bring them into our corral. We are convinced that once they read our stuff, they will be fascinated and stick with us. We can make spectators into activist to help the cause of freedom of expression."

Zundel, like most "Revisionists" has a special interest in attracting students. Speaking of his Zundelsite, he statistically gathered the number of students who visited. The results: "If one in three Zundelsite visitors is a young student - chances are, enrolled in programs at a university - this means that we are reaching our future leadership. You can also be sure that these students will discuss with fellow students or professors what they read."

The actions Zundel takes, the denier literature, the court cases, the website, his mansion, the bullet-proof vest, all the propaganda must be costly. However, this is not a problem for Zundel since donations and volunteers account for assistance and the cost of running the campaign. Zundel calls how he and his followers finance their worldwide program, "The Zundel Miracle." He admits to working "almost like a church." Volunteers do the research and the food is donated by locals. Zundel and his crew have paid staff members, as well. The bulk of the money comes to them through donations. Wills are also a target for Zundel: "Wills, especially, are like "Manna from Heaven" for our work, because it would take sometimes the donations of hundreds of people to make up the sum of a single bequest." How Zundel manages financially is best expressed in his following sentiments concluding one of his Power Letters: "Without your financial help it would not have been possible. You make the difference!"

A lot of money is involved in the deniers and Zundel’s cause. However, the monetary gain is not the main source of motivation. From my research, I’ve discovered that the real motivation lies in a burdening guilt for being of the same blood that is responsible for the massive Jew slaughter. Deniers like Zundel are from a generation that felt victimized by the ridicule common for all Germans after the war. Zundel’s press release in the October 1, 1996 Zundelsite, he is quoted stating the following:

"German youths have nothing to fear by the truth they find on the Zundelsite - only liberation from a guilt complex deliberately induced into three genereations of unsuspecting Germans by the so-called Allied "re-educators" and psychological warfare specialists after Germany’s defeat in 1945."

The journalist for Maclean’s, a Canadian magazine, Barbara Amiel, gives us an insight into Zundel, the person.

"What must it have have been like for Zundel, a German child growing up at the end of the Second World War, with every radio station, newspaper and history book telling him he came from a race of hideous, bloody murderers? The fact is that he did. But surely this is a traumatic experience which, while it can be handled by most people, may have a devastating effect on some. So devastating that in the end they might genuinely believe the charges not to be true and become obsessed with telling the world?"

Denying the Holocaust is an obsession for Zundel and others like him. The deniers become so fixated on denying, they do not remember to look for truth. Their minds only absorb half-truths and text out of context that "prove" the Holocaust was a hoax.

Zundel’s obsession is with his victimization. He flaunts this by what he wears, (bullet-proof vest and hard hat), and by what he says. In his Power Letter of November 1997, he tells the world of his personal emotional difficulties with his ex-wife. He uses his Letter as an emotional journal where he expresses such things as his wife’s name calling and his rebutle. Throughout the Letters, Zundel makes constant pleas for his reader’s sympathy. I wonder if this is Zundel’s attempt to win-over his audience, or if he always views himself as the victim.

A respected Holocaust denier, Reinhold Eltsner committed suicide because of his obsession. He killed himself as a martyr for the denier cause. He became frustrated with society’s refusal to accept facts of history as a debatible topic. Zundel will not let this martyr die in vain.

"Toward that end, people everywhere who are of German background - many who have never lived in Germany and were not even born there, but who still have some will and freedom left to fight against injustice, lies and slander - will do their best to let all fair and forthright people know to the farthest corner of the planet why this man lived and loved, why he fought during World War II - and why he chose to die."

By denying the Holocaust existed, Zundel is denying a fact of history. And why does he do this? Zundel is the victim of the genocide of the Second World War. He is the victim who suffered the great burden of guilt. He could no longer take pride in his race because of how they slaughtered so many people. As long as the Jewish Holocaust existed, Ernst Zundel would be belittled and degraded. The "Final Solution": expel the Holocaust from existence.

The truth to Holocaust "Revisionism" is that there is no truth. The "Diminishers" present various insignificant details of the war, and draw conclusions from assumptions. Their efforts are tireless. They lure followers by promoting open-mindedness, free speech, and skepticism. Their aim is to create a skeptic and diminish what he knows to be true. A skeptic’s nature comes from a fear of being fooled. Holocaust deniers aim at fooling others.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[ Holocaust denial (french) | Gravediggers of Memory | Tout PHDN ]