Holocaust denial - sorry if sensitive. Shocked....

[theluckiest]

Know this isn't a recent issue but know there's a film out soon on this subject so it's reared its ugly head...

I am just utterly shocked that this is even a thing. How can it be? Just listening to Mark Kermode talking about the new film 'Denial' - I just cannot believe that a major, catastrophic historical event still in living memory (just about) with many, many witnesses; victims, eyewitnesses and perpetrators; physical and photographic evidence can even be remotely questioned...

I know that history often throws up questions about evidence and reliability but the perpetrators of this particular genocide actually kept meticulous and detailed records of what they did.

I've just had the misfortune to stumble across some horrendously anti-Semitic website and the reasons for Holocaust denial would be laughable if they weren't so horrifying.

I am genuinely utterly baffled by the deniers. I'm not even really sure why I'm posting - I'm just shocked. Appalled. How easily history can be manipulated by ignorance and racism...

[CornetBlues]

I know what you mean. I am 50 and grew up with hushed mention of local men I knew who had been involved in liberating Belsen. I now tell my children and also tell them of those who seek to minimise or even deny what happened. The eldest has watched The World at War on DVD and the documentary Shoah.

[BillSykesDog]

There's a really good article in BBC History mag this month from one of the expert witnesses. He talks about their surprise and horror as they discovered how Irving had falsified his evidence. His name's Richard J Evans and he has a book 'Telling Lies About Hitler' telling it in more detail which I intend to buy.

Met David Irving once. Really creepy man.

[CoolCarrie]

I would like to see the film as all the three lead actors are excellent and will be taking our son to see it as well. It is so important that we, and our children,and their children, never forget the evil that humans can do, and to know of the bravery of so many, the SOE, for example who gave their lives for our freedom.

[AyeAmarok]

I have been meaning to watch this film.

I know what you mean OP, I just cannot understand how people can deny it.

[IrenetheQuaint]

Neverunderestimate the human capacity for racism and self-deception.

Telling Lies About Hitler is a fantastic book.

[Anasnake]

When I was at uni a holocaust survivor came to speak to us. He lost his wife and child but told us how he had been called a liar to his face. I've been to Auschwitz, you can't deny it. Shameful.

[CoolCarrie]

It is totally bizarre to be think that it couldn't be true, I trust the memories of Richard Dimbilbey over a nutter like Irving

[MyBeloved]

Shockingly, books about Holocaust denial are easily bought on amazon for as little as 99p.

There really are no words to adequately describe how I feel about how I feel about deniers.

[CoolCarrie]

That is shocking FrancisCrawford, when you think how many Poles, Czechs and many others came to the UK to help fight it is a disgrace that massacre was covered up.

[alltouchedout]

I recently read Anton Gill's The Journey Back From Hell. It's no surprise, really, that holocaust denial is so common, when even in the immediate aftermath so many people just didn't want to know. To read the stories of survivors who talk about the way no one would hear them, the way no one seemed to care... it's frightening.

[daisychain01]

It will become even more of a trend when the remaining holocaust survivors/witnesses and family members pass away and there are no voices there to describe the reality and say I saw it with my own eyes.

I'm going to see the Denial film next Wednesday. I am heartened and proud that our little local cinema (converted from an old theatre) is choosing to show the film 3 times a day for several days.

I saw Schindler's List when it came out and the horror still lives with me all these years later. So I'm going next week, knowing full well it will rip me to shreds. But go we all must. Thanks for this thread.

[CoolCarrie]

Thank goodness Steven Spielberg and many others are preserving the memories of survivors and the liberators for the future.

[AutumnalLeaves38]

One of the most pivotal moments in my childhood, which still sends icy chills down my spine, was (at age 8) noticing faded tattoo marks along the arm of my Grandmother's visiting Czech friend, Ada, as her discreet sleeve slipped down.

It led to an open discussion, age-appropriate and factual, but very honest. And obviously very upsetting for us all. Learning about the Kindertransport etc., and being given a copy of Anne Frank's diary to read when old enough, having met a real, live, camp survivor, impacted on me in a very major way.

I've always been utterly sickened by Holocaust (or any other atrocity) denial, in the face of legitimate evidence and witness testimony

[CoolCarrie]

My grandparents neighbour in the 1950s was a survivor, she only spoke about it to my grandparents as my grandfather had been in the RAF, and the lady was very grateful to the UK for giving her a home. My mum used to go through to light fires, heat food etc for the lady on the sabbath.