David Irving
English author and Holocaust denier discredited in 2000 libel trial.
via Wikipedia: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry · see source
He was found to be a Holocaust denier in a British court in 2000 as a result of a failed libel case, and his reputation as a historical author was discredited by the court's ruling that he wilfully misrepresented historical evidence.
- field
- Military and political history
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Holocaust denial, works on Nazi Germany, failed libel case against Deborah Lipst
Lore & Background
By the late 1980s, influenced by the trial of Ernst Zündel and the Leuchter report, he openly espoused Holocaust denial, specifically denying gassings at Auschwitz. The court found his books distorted Hitler's role in the Holocaust. Irving has been denied entry to various countries, expelled from others, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Austria for violating laws prohibiting Nazi activities.
Reader's Guide
The 2000 libel trial was a landmark event: the court's detailed ruling exposed his systematic manipulation of evidence to promote Holocaust denial and whitewash Nazi crimes. Historians had already denounced his negationist claims, but the legal judgment cemented his marginalization. Irving's case illustrates the boundary between historical revisionism and denial, and the role of courts in adjudicating factual claims about the Holocaust. His legacy is that of a cautionary figure in historiography, demonstrating how ideological extremism can corrupt scholarly practice.
Did You Know?
- Irving studied physics at Imperial College London but left due to financial constraints.
- In 2000, High Court Judge Charles Gray ruled that Irving was an active Holocaust denier, antisemite, and racist who persistently misrepresented historical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is David Irving?
David John Cawdell Irving, born 24 March 1938, is an English author who specialized in the military and political history of World War II, with a particular focus on Nazi Germany. He is now widely identified as a Holocaust denier following a landmark 2000 court ruling.
What is David Irving most known for?
He is best known for his Holocaust denial and for the 2000 libel case in which he sued historian Deborah Lipstadt and lost. A British court formally branded him a Holocaust denier and ruled that he had wilfully misrepresented historical evidence.
What happened in the 2000 libel trial involving David Irving?
Irving sued Deborah Lipstadt for libel over her characterization of his work, but the case backfired when the judge found him to be a Holocaust denier. The court concluded he had deliberately distorted the historical record, and his standing as a credible historian was effectively destroyed.
Why is David Irving considered discredited in historical circles?
The 2000 British court ruling that he wilfully misrepresented evidence to support a denialist narrative permanently undermined his credibility. After that verdict, his earlier books on the Third Reich are generally regarded as unreliable accounts rather than serious scholarship.
What field did David Irving work in?
He wrote in the area of military and political history, concentrating on World War II events and the inner workings of the Nazi regime. His nationality is English, and his career spanned several decades of publishing before his reputation collapsed in the 2000 trial.
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