Eighty Years On: Honoring VE Day and Confronting the Rising Tide of Holocaust Denial

 

Next week marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, a pivotal moment in world history that signaled the end of World War II in Europe and the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945. VE Day remains a global symbol of the triumph of freedom over tyranny, a time to remember the millions who sacrificed their lives to defeat fascism. But as the world prepares to commemorate this historic milestone, a darker, more insidious threat has emerged alongside it: the resurgence of Holocaust denial and the distortion of historical truth.

 

In recent years, fueled by misinformation, conspiracy theories, and unregulated digital echo chambers, Holocaust denial and antisemitism have found new life on social media and fringe online platforms. With the number of living Holocaust survivors dwindling and firsthand accounts growing rarer, preserving the truth has become a critical responsibility. The urgency has only increased in the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks, which have further intensified the spread of antisemitic rhetoric and revisionist narratives.

 

To better understand this troubling trend, it’s important to revisit a defining moment in the fight against Holocaust denial — the 2000 libel trial of David Irving versus Penguin Books and American scholar Deborah Lipstadt. In her book Denying the Holocaust, Lipstadt identified Irving as a Holocaust denier, a claim he vehemently rejected by suing her and her publisher in British court. What followed was a landmark legal case that essentially put the Holocaust itself on trial.

 

The proceedings in London drew international attention as both sides presented extensive historical evidence. Ultimately, the court found in favor of Lipstadt, declaring Irving to be not only a Holocaust denier but also a deliberate falsifier of history and a neo-Nazi sympathizer. The verdict was a resounding victory for historical truth and academic freedom. It validated the importance of resisting distortion and reaffirmed that facts must be defended — particularly when the consequences of denial are so grave.

 

Deborah Lipstadt, now serving as the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, recently joined The Daily T podcast to reflect on that experience. Alongside her was Anthony Julius, the British lawyer who led her defense. Together, they revisited the trial’s emotional and intellectual toll and emphasized how the fight against denial remains as vital today as it was 25 years ago.

 

 

Lipstadt explained the broader significance of the trial, stating that “this was never about me — it was about preserving the integrity of history.” Julius echoed that sentiment, noting, “We had to demonstrate that truth was not something to be negotiated. The stakes were — and still are — existential.”

 

As the world gathers to honor the sacrifices made in the fight against Nazism, the lessons of the past must not be diluted. The commemoration of VE Day is not just about remembering victory — it is about renewing our collective commitment to truth, justice, and the memory of those who perished. In an era where disinformation moves faster than ever, standing firm against Holocaust denial is a duty owed not just to history, but to future generations.

 

The conversation with Lipstadt and Julius serves as a poignant reminder: history must be protected, and lies must be challenged. The 80th anniversary of VE Day is not only a moment for reflection but also a call to action in the ongoing battle for truth.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-03

 

 

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

an era where disinformation moves faster than ever, standing firm against Holocaust

Well said👍

I went to Auschwitz about 12 years ago.  A very sobering trip.  I did a group guided tour, led by an Israeli lady.  One thing that still stands out to me today was her admission that many Israeli schools teach their children that it was only Jews who died at Auschwitz.  Obviously a historically innaccurate fact, although of course the vast, vast majority were in fact Jews.

 

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/history/the-number-of-victims/overall-numbers-by-ethnicity-or-category-of-deportee/

Yep, 

 

There are holocaust deniers everywhere.  Even on AN it seems.

 

 

@BangkokHank a nonsense Holocaust denial conspiracy post and follow ups have been removed. Enough of that inflammatory rhetoric or you will also be removed.

 

@Tug a post attempting to bring Trump into the topic has been removed

25 minutes ago, ignore it said:

Yep, 

 

There are holocaust deniers everywhere.  Even on AN it seems.

 

 

Socialism cannot exist without enemies and victims. As long as there is Socialism, there will be deniers.

Any excuse to deflect to others that it never happened, thereby enlisting new members of the hate brigade, they'll try it. So many were involved when some of the camps were found by US and British troops shows how many witnesses there were. There will always be white supremacists as they are being taught hate for others at home. When a child sees their dad or mom, or both, talking bad about a certain race, creed or nationality, they think it's right, and many times they'll follow suit in their thinking as adults. You can brainwash a child very easily if you treat them right, and if we see how many terrorists are created as children to hate a particular group, it's easy to see how hate for Jews still happens.

27 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Socialism cannot exist without enemies and victims. As long as there is Socialism, there will be deniers.

The thread isn’t about your misconceptions of Socialism.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The thread isn’t about your misconceptions of Socialism.

No its about antisemitism and holocaust denial, a part of Socialism guys like you try to hide.

58 minutes ago, ignore it said:

Yep, 

 

There are holocaust deniers everywhere.  Even on AN it seems.

 

 

You can tell by the thumbs down emojis lol

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

No its about antisemitism and holocaust denial, a part of Socialism guys like you try to hide.

Some misguided (extreme) right wing ignoramuses have been trying for years to sell Hitler and his nazi movement as socialist. You’re not one of those, are you?

16 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

There will always be Socialists indoctrinated into hate in schools. Jews will always be the target of Socialism.

 

16 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

There will always be Socialists indoctrinated into hate in schools. Jews will always be the target of Socialism.

There is also Bundism, socialist Jews. Hate is a part of all politics and beliefs, where some people twist it's meaning. Jews are the targets of disturbed individuals, taught by their parents to hate, or learned joining groups because they needed to follow something.

5 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Some misguided (extreme) right wing ignoramuses have been trying for years to sell Hitler and his nazi movement as socialist. You’re not one of those, are you?

Whole topic on it that I've referenced numerous times. Go over there and respond and show us how smart you are. I beat everybody else on this board, they call it national socialism for a reason

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

I went to Auschwitz about 12 years ago.  A very sobering trip.  I did a group guided tour, led by an Israeli lady.  One thing that still stands out to me today was her admission that many Israeli schools teach their children that it was only Jews who died at Auschwitz.  Obviously a historically innaccurate fact, although of course the vast, vast majority were in fact Jews.

 

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/history/the-number-of-victims/overall-numbers-by-ethnicity-or-category-of-deportee/

 

  I do not believe that to be true . 

But, you went to Auschwitz and you main memory from that is something that is critical of Israel ?

   You vested a place in Poland where millions of people were murdered and your main recollection is something about the Israeli educational system ?

19 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

No its about antisemitism and holocaust denial, a part of Socialism guys like you try to hide.

You mean like these socialists?:

 

 

https://stljewishlight.org/world-news/joe-rogan-hosts-holocaust-denier/

19 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

No its about antisemitism and holocaust denial, a part of Socialism guys like you try to hide.

Ok than, can you please explain in detail?

I must be stupid because i can not make any sense of your posts.

Have you ever been to one of those camps or other places where the Germans committed genocide?

It did not only happen in concentration camps.

 

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  I do not believe that to be true . 

But, you went to Auschwitz and you main memory from that is something that is critical of Israel ?

   You vested a place in Poland where millions of people were murdered and your main recollection is something about the Israeli educational system ?

He's just stating that the group leader told the visitors that not all of the people who were killed at the camps were Jews, which is true. Of course the majority were. I would think anyone visiting Auschwitz, which is on my bucket list, are already informed about what went on there, with so many war stories and documentaries throughout the years since it happened. Some people who visited might not have been aware of that fact, so she pointed it out to them.

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

He's just stating that the group leader told the visitors that not all of the people who were killed at the camps were Jews, which is true. Of course the majority were. I would think anyone visiting Auschwitz, which is on my bucket list, are already informed about what went on there, with so many war stories and documentaries throughout the years since it happened. Some people who visited might not have been aware of that fact, so she pointed it out to them.

 

   The emphasis was on what was allegedly taught in Israeli schools and was supposedly said by an Israeli who just happened to be a tour guide.

   Visiting Auschwitz and the main memory of the visit is something that is critical of  Israel 🤔

28 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Whole topic on it that I've referenced numerous times. Go over there and respond and show us how smart you are. I beat everybody else on this board, they call it national socialism for a reason

What nonsense dude you are further out there every day please seek counseling I mean that sincerely.good luck on your life’s journey.

40 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Some misguided (extreme) right wing ignoramuses have been trying for years to sell Hitler and his nazi movement as socialist. You’re not one of those, are you?

 

   Anti Semites today do seem to be left Wing and the far right .

The Left wing demonstrator mob do seem to be Anti Semitic , the ones out on the street protesting about whatever's flavor of the day .

   The Left wing anti capitalist , anti establishment ,  climate change , stop oil , Greta Thunberg , stop wars  , Anti Trump , Pro Palestinians mob do always seem to oppose Israel and that often extends to attacking Jews as well 

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  I do not believe that to be true . 

But, you went to Auschwitz and you main memory from that is something that is critical of Israel ?

   You vested a place in Poland where millions of people were murdered and your main recollection is something about the Israeli educational system ?

Oh for goodness sake.  I said "One thing that still stands out" not "the only thing that stands out"!  Why don't you read things properly rather than defaulting to being a troll?

2 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Oh for goodness sake.  I said "One thing that still stands out" not "the only thing that stands out"!  Why don't you read things properly rather than defaulting to being a troll?

 

   Its the one and only thing that you mentioned on here .

You didn't mention anything else .

Its the one thing you remembered most 

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   The emphasis was on what was allegedly taught in Israeli schools and was supposedly said by an Israeli who just happened to be a tour guide.

   Visiting Auschwitz and the main memory of the visit is something that is critical of  Israel 🤔

My main memory is absolutely NOT this, it ranks quite low on a list of my memories of that trip - but mentioning all of those would be off-topic and there's enough facts around for people to learn for themselves.  But it is a comment that adheres to the OP's title, namely "denial".  Calling out some hypocrisy is all.  Doesn't mean I'm anti-Israeli either.  🙄

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Its the one and only thing that you mentioned on here .

You didn't mention anything else .

Its the one thing you remembered most 

Read my reply on your reply to fredwiggy.

3 hours ago, Watawattana said:

I went to Auschwitz about 12 years ago.  A very sobering trip.  I did a group guided tour, led by an Israeli lady.  One thing that still stands out to me today was her admission that many Israeli schools teach their children that it was only Jews who died at Auschwitz.  Obviously a historically innaccurate fact, although of course the vast, vast majority were in fact Jews.

 

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/history/the-number-of-victims/overall-numbers-by-ethnicity-or-category-of-deportee/

 

 There were 3  camps at Auschwitz. Camps 1 & 2 are what people visit. Auschwitz 1 was a  detention  camp.

Auschwitz 2 which is called Birkenau was an extermination center and was built specifically for the mass murder of european jews. Auschwitz 3 was called Monowitz and was a slave labour camp in partnership with IG Farben.  People died of abuse, disease and starvation at all facilities, but the extermination was specific to only  one  camp at Auschwitz. There was a difference between concentration camps and extermination camps. 

 

1 hour ago, Tug said:

What nonsense dude you are further out there every day please seek counseling I mean that sincerely.good luck on your life’s journey.

Why would I need counseling? My life is great, I'm happy most of the time with my country and it's policies, I don't have anybody in my head making me crazy everyday and I have an understanding of history that allows me to recognize who the enemy is and who isn't

2 hours ago, jvs said:

Ok than, can you please explain in detail?

I must be stupid because i can not make any sense of your posts.

Have you ever been to one of those camps or other places where the Germans committed genocide?

It did not only happen in concentration camps.

 

You don't think that national socialism is anti-Semitic?

13 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You don't think that national socialism is anti-Semitic?

No, why would it be?

53 minutes ago, jvs said:

No, why would it be?

You are joking right?

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You are joking right?

No,explain it.