Holocaust denial : demographics, testimonies, and ideologies

Holding that historians should not ignore the arguments of Holocaust deniers, examines their main arguments and refutes them. Beginning with demographic arguments put forth by Walter Sanning, shows that he distorts the prewar Jewish statistical data and misinterprets the postwar data; he and others deny Nazi actions like the deportations from Hungary in 1944. Argues against the outright dismissal of testimonies given by victims and perpetrators, as well as against David Irving's denial of Hitler's responsibility. Shows that the main motivation of Holocaust deniers is apologetics for Hitler and Nazism. Discusses the technical aspects of the functioning of the Auschwitz gas chambers, crematoria, and open-air burning pits, as well as the question of whether the Allies' aerial reconaissance could have discovered the mass killing facilities in Birkenau in 1944. Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-397) and index. xiv, 406 pages ; 24 cm