Telling Lies About Hitler: The Holocaust, History and the David Irving Trial

Telling Lies About Hitler examines the 2000 libel trial between Holocaust denier David Irving and historian Deborah Lipstadt. The book focuses on the role of expert witness Robert Jan van Pelt, who testified about the evidence for gas chambers at Auschwitz. Van Pelt chronicles the preparation of evidence for the trial and the methods used to verify historical facts about the Holocaust. His account details the process of gathering architectural plans, documents, and eyewitness testimony to present in court. The narrative moves between historical evidence about Auschwitz and the contemporary legal proceedings in London. The author provides context about Holocaust denial and explains how historians work to authenticate documentary evidence. The book raises questions about historical truth, the burden of proof, and how societies confront denials of documented atrocities. It serves as both a historical record and an exploration of how academic expertise functions in legal settings.

Readers value this book's systematic breakdown of Irving's Holocaust denial claims and the detailed account of the trial proceedings. History enthusiasts appreciate Van Pelt's methodical explanation of how he and others assembled evidence to counter Irving's assertions. Positive reviews focus on: - Clear presentation of complex historical evidence - Insight into how historians verify historical facts - Documentation of how Holocaust deniers distort evidence Critical reviews mention: - Dense academic writing style - Excessive technical detail in some sections - Narrow focus on specific aspects of the trial Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Reader quote: "Van Pelt meticulously documents how Irving deliberately misrepresented historical evidence. Important for understanding how historical facts are established and defended." - Goodreads reviewer The book receives particular praise from academics and legal professionals for its detailed examination of how historical evidence holds up in court.

Denying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened and Why Do They Say It? by Michael Shermer, Alex Grobman This examination of Holocaust denial presents the methods used to investigate historical claims and exposes the flaws in deniers' arguments through archival evidence and interviews.

History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier by Deborah E. Lipstadt The firsthand account of the legal battle between Deborah Lipstadt and David Irving details the strategies used to defend historical truth in the courtroom.

The Holocaust on Trial by D.D. Guttenplan A chronicle of the Irving v. Penguin Books trial explores the intersection of historical evidence, free speech, and the burden of proof in establishing historical facts.

Lying About Hitler: History, Holocaust, and the David Irving Trial by Richard J. Evans The principal expert witness against David Irving provides insight into the historical methods used to expose deliberate misrepresentation of evidence about the Holocaust.

Truth and Lamentation: Stories and Poems on the Holocaust by Milton Teichman and Sharon Leder This collection of primary sources and testimonies presents the evidence and personal accounts that counter Holocaust denial claims.

📚 Robert Van Pelt served as an expert witness in the David Irving vs. Penguin Books trial, providing detailed testimony about the architecture and operation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. 🏛️ The book emerged from Van Pelt's 700-page expert report prepared for the trial, which became one of the most comprehensive academic refutations of Holocaust denial ever assembled. ⚖️ The 2000 trial centered around Holocaust denier David Irving suing American historian Deborah Lipstadt for libel after she called him a Holocaust denier in her book "Denying the Holocaust." 🔍 Van Pelt's analysis included groundbreaking architectural studies of the gas chambers, including detailed examination of original German blueprints and construction documents. 📖 The book's title references a quote from Hitler himself: "The broad masses of a nation... will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one."