British Holocaust Denier To Lead Tour of Nazi Sites
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Controversial British Holocaust denier and “historian” David Irving (to call him a historian, sans quotations, seems a tad irresponsible) will lead a group of British and American tourists on an “unforgettable journey” next week to Nazi sites in Germany and Poland.
Needless to say, Irving’s trip hasn’t gone over well.
“For Holocaust survivors, the planned visit by David Irving to the sites of the Treblinka death camp and the Warsaw Ghetto is a deliberate act of hate and contempt by this notorious racist,” Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, told JTA. “His tour is an insult to all victims of Nazi brutality, Jew and non-Jew.”
The trip, which costs $2,650 a head, also includes stops at Hitler’s headquarters at Ketrzyn, Himmler’s headquarters and Auschwitz. The tour is fully booked, according to Irving.
Auschwitz, in particular, has elicited strong words from Irving in recent days. Irving told a British newspaper that Polish authorities have turned the camp into a “Disney-style … money-making machine.” Irving accused the site’s curators of going so far as to construct phony watchtowers.
“Forget the phony allures, mass-tourism and ‘reconstructions’ modern-day Auschwitz — the erstwhile slave-labour camp turned into a tourist attraction, complete with hot-dog vendors and souvenir stands,” he wrote on his website, Focal Point Publications.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
