Q: The Hitler Conspiracies – Professor Sir Richard Evans – Intro

A:

• Welsh, Raised in London

• Intrigued as a child by bombed out sites

• Studied history at Oxford

• Academic interest in Germany / Nazi Era

• Published trilogy on Nazi Germany

• Dramatic rise of conspiracy theories

• Grant for multidisciplinary team to study conspiracies

Q: What is the Protocols of the Elders of Zion?

A: 

• Forgery of notes from World Zionist Congress 1897

• Plot of Elders to take over the world

• Published in 1902, hodgepodge of origins

• Not clear who put it together

• Trial 1930s Bern proving forgery

• Used to justify pre-existing anti-Semitism

Q: Protocols of Elders of Zion – How Important for Nazis?

A: 

• Even Goebbels wrote they were fake

• Reprinted with commentaries

• Nazis did not need Protocols

• But support for racial anti-Semitism

Q: What is the “Stab in the Back”?

A:

• Phrase is from Wagner’s work

• Germans thought they were winning the war

• Defeat was a surprise

• USA troops and tanks decisive

• Generals blamed internal groups

• Socialist, Communists, Democrats

• Nazis picked up on the theory

• But were cautious not to offend the middle class

Q:  Did German Generals promote the Stab in the Back?

A: 

• Stab in Back used to justify war loss

• No real evidence

• Generals: it was a not our fault

• Great opposition to the theory

• Parliament debated the issue in 1920s

• Military situation determined outcome

Q: “Stab in the Back” – Impact rise of Nazi Party?

A: 

• Stab in the Back not focus of Nazis

• Hitler attacks German Generals as War Criminals

• Attacks reparations, limits on armaments

• Not used much by Nazi Propaganda

• But theory drives Nazi policy

• Attempt to placate civilians / wives

Q: What was the Reichstag Fire?

A: 

• Hitler appointed German chancellor January 30, 1933

• Reichstag Fire February 27, 1933

• Nazis blame Communists, Socialists

• Enact laws against foes

• Set up concentration camps

• Pass Enabling Act March 23,1933

• Dictatorial power

• Communists clam fire was Nazi plot

• Evidence points to one guilty person,  Marinus van der Lubbe

Q: Why do Reichstag Fire Conspiracies Persist?

A: 

• Far Left persists in conspiracy

• Even forged documents

• Bizarre Theories – Van der Lubbe hypnotized

• Events do happen by chance

• Single person can be responsible for history

• “Who Benefits” drives the conspiracies

Q: Did Rudolph Hess act alone?

A: 

• Rudolph Hess, second to Hitler

• Flew to Scotland May 10, 1941

• Aimed to meet with Duke of Hamilton

• Churchill totally discounts the event

• Hitler shocked and depressed

• Theory: must be master peace plan 

Q: Why do people believe Hitler survived war?

A: 

• Hitler realized war is lost & decides on suicide

• Commits suicide together with Eva Braun

• Bodies burned in Reich’s Chancellery garden

• No evidence to the contrary

• Industry dedicated to this conspiracy

• Many of these theorists are Hitler admirers

Q:  What do Conspiracy Theories have in Common?

A: 

• Dismiss what they call “Official History”

• Join dots in an illogical way

• Ignore the main researched points

• Employ a pseudo-logic

• Posit that all history is planned in advance

• Believe there is no chance

• Stark world of good and evil

Q: Why are Conspiracy Theories Dangerous?

A: 

• Conspiracy theories are dangerous

• Pollute the Word of truth

• Naïve refusal to believe in facts

• Demonize people and events

• Fake evidence & create forgeries

• Witnessing decline in belief in truth

• Wide problem of 21th Century

Q: What was the Holocaust Denial Trial?

A: 

• Holocaust denier David Irving

• Irving sues Deborah Lipstadt

• London Trial, High Court 2000

• Sir Richard serves as expert witness

• Need to combat denial of Holocaust

• Issue of Freedom of Speech

• Major motion picture, Denial

• Survivors and skin heads