What is Holocaust Revisionism?

In most countries, children learn about the Holocaust in school and at home. Our parents and teachers tell us stories about the atrocities committed by the Nazis and give us books to read that are typically written by victims of the Holocaust. Along with these stories, we are given lessons on the rights all humans should have and how those rights were violated in many ways during World War II. Some of us even learn about how our allies, the Soviets, committed some atrocities of their own. The Holocaust has become a part of world culture. Most of us do not question that Jews, gypsies, the infirm and others were executed by the Nazis. However, a small minority question what we know of the Holocaust. Some question minor details, while others question whether genocide actually occurred. These people call themselves Holocaust revisionists.

Some Holocaust revisionists will tell you that they all believe a certain way and that they are given a bad rap because of misconceptions perpetuated by people who do not question the history of the Holocaust. The fact of the matter is that there is no specific series of beliefs shared by Holocaust revisionists. Therefore, it is not a good idea to assume not all revisionists believe the Holocaust was genocide or that all revisionists are neo-Nazis. Indeed, many do believe there was no genocide and their motivation for this belief is sympathy for the Nazis. However, that is not the case for all Holocaust revisionists. Each has his own personal beliefs on the subject.

Claims made by Holocaust revisionists include, "There was no genocide during the Holocaust." and "There were no gas chambers at concentration camps." These people argue that Hitler did not order the Jews killed. They also say there is no proof of the gas chambers. In order to come to that conclusion, one has to dismiss the testimony of hundreds, if not thousands, of victims as lies. Therefore, people who wish to uphold the integrity and honor the memory of Holocaust victims and survivors are very angry that Holocaust revisionists even raise the topic.

The problem with arguing about the nature of the Holocaust is the definition of genocide. Very few people take into account the fact that Hitler did not have to order the deaths of Jews (though he may well have) in order for the Holocaust to be genocide. Article II part C of the international legal definition of genocide says "Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;" When taken in context that means a group has to do this knowingly for mass killings to be considered genocide. The Nazis knew that the Jews were dying as a result of their living conditions, which were forced upon them. The answer to that question is clear.

Some facts about the Holocaust are unclear due to the chaotic nature of World War II. Holocaust revisionists who focus on hammering out the details and not on victimizing survivors even further by calling them liars may very well be innocent of anti-Semitism. Nonetheless, if you are looking for facts about the Holocaust, it is best not to look in modern papers written by writers who may have an agenda. You should go to the source - survivors or surviving evidence. There is no clearer way to the truth.

Sources

An introduction to the Holocaust: Revisionism, retrieved 12/4/10, codoh.com/info/infoihr/ihrleafdex.html

Holocaust Denial on Trial, retrieved 12/4/10, hdot.org/en/learning/myth-fact