Interviewing Holocaust Revisionist - Essay Example

As he toured Auschwitz, Cole described humanitarian structures such as a “disinfestation complex”, theater, and swimming pool inside of the camp. These structures call into question the function of the prison. If prisoners were sent to Auschwitz to be murdered, why should the Germans provide hygiene, entertainment, and exercise to them? Cole's interview with Dr. Franciszek Piper, curator of the Auschwitz State Museum, is the focus of the video. Cole disputes the Holocaust's existence because there is no proof, “there's no picture, plan or wartime document dealing with homicidal gas chambers or a plan to exterminate Jews” (Cole). He tries to provide a “perfectly normal explanation” for the materials and exhibits which define the Holocaust (Cole). Poison gas was used for disinfection, dead bodies were caused by a Typhus epidemic and discarded clothing came from naturally deceased prisoners.

The interview with Dr. Piper is primarily concerned with the Auschwitz gas chamber. Cole questioned the function of this building because it had been changed since the end of the war. While Piper believed that four holes were drilled in the ceiling of this building to kill prisoners, Cole believed that these holes were drilled after the camp was liberated by Soviet forces during the camp's reconstruction. Cole points to aerial photographs as evidence of the new construction. Cole also cited the lack of Zyklon B residue in the chamber as proof that it was never used to kill humans. Cole then turned from the institution to the numbers. Traditionally, the Holocaust is stated to have killed eleven million Jews and non-Jews. These figures are based on Soviet claims made after the war which Cole does not accept. Cole compared it to American prison camps where “anywhere from several hundred thousand to over two million” Germans died (Cole). To him, this was evidence that all camps of this era were dangerous regardless of national affiliation.

While David Cole does bring up some interesting points about the nature of historical memory and national propaganda, it is hard to ignore the tragedy which was Auschwitz and the individuals who died there. We can not know for sure if Hitler had a final solution for the Jews. We must also question the validity of Soviet reports and the presence of American war crimes during World War Two. The history of warfare is tragic and sometimes horrifying. The Holocaust might be questioned by some researchers but what can not be denied is the death of millions of human beings of many nationalities, religions, and races during the war. They were murdered in service of national, religious, and socially hygienic directives which make little sense to us today. While we should never forget the atrocities which took place in  German prison camps like Auschwitz, we should also remember that war is horrible on all fronts, regardless of the political propaganda which follows. Read More